Finals week, fatigue, worries and self-doubt. \u00a0Finals week, courage, the joy of intellectual engagement. \u00a0 Final exams reminded me of Tagore\u2019s great poem which often reminds me of the courage at the heart of students encountering their university.<\/p>\n
We are a university, where people listen, take each other seriously. \u00a0Teachers listen to students. \u00a0 When I taught full-time, some students told me one day that I was most scary when one of them would say something and I would turn around and write her\/his words on the board, circle one word then turn around and ask: \u201cWhy did you choose\u00a0that<\/u>\u00a0word?\u201d<\/p>\n
Teachers do that: \u00a0listen for the voice, call it forth; expect respect for words. \u00a0 Not only teachers though. \u00a0Universities call on students to listen to each other, to expect meaning from each other. \u00a0 \u00a0 Administrative assistants, \u00a0staff in the registrar\u2019s office, nurse practitioners in the student wellness center, \u00a0campus security officers, coaches; \u00a0lots of listening. \u00a0On good days, each of us knows that. \u00a0And on hard days, maybe one of our peers will notice our distress and ask how we are doing, and listen to our story. These days many of our stories are tales of fear and fatigue; pretty much everything takes longer, our futures are deeply uncertain. \u00a0Perhaps that is what led me back to Tagore\u2019s Gitanjali #2<\/u>. \u00a0Rabindranath Tagore writes of God expecting a song from human beings, thrilling us by sacred attention.<\/p>\n
Best to read the poem out loud, with pauses.<\/p>\n
Have a blest day, perhaps even with three good surprises.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
john sj<\/p>\n
When Thou commandest me to sing All that is harsh and dissonant in my life I know Thou takest pleasure in my singing Drunk with the joy of singing Rabindranath Tagore Monday, \u00a0April 20 \u00a0 Rabindranath Tagore # 2 \u00a0 {Gitanjali} \u201cWhen Thou commandest me to sing \u00a0. \u00a0. \u00a0. \u00a0. \u201d Finals week, fatigue, worries and self-doubt. \u00a0Finals week, courage, the joy of intellectual engagement. \u00a0 Final exams reminded me … Continue reading
\nToday\u2019s Post \u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Tagore # 2 \u00a0\u00a0Gitanjali<\/u>\u00a0 # 2<\/p>\n
\nit seems that my heart would break with pride
\nand I look to Thy face
\nand tears come to my eyes.<\/p>\n
\nmelts into one sweet harmony
\nand my adoration spreads wings like a glad bird
\non its flight across the sea.<\/p>\n
\nI know that only as a singer I come before Thy presence
\nI touch by the edge of the far spreading wing of my song
\nThy feet which I could never aspire to reach.<\/p>\n
\nI forget myself
\nand call Thee friend
\nwho art my lord.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sites.udmercy.edu\/poetry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/170\/2016\/04\/Tagore.jpg\")
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\nMay 1861 \u00a0\u2013 August 1941<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"