“My job is to awaken possibility in other people.”
I love that line! It comes from a TED Talk by Benjamin Zander, conductor of the Boston Philharmonic. I have watched his 20 minute presentation many times. Every time I get goose bumps. As I watch I think to myself that is the kind of teacher/leader I want to be. This is one of the things he says about leadership:
“It's one of the characteristics of a leader that he not doubt for one moment the capacity of the people he’s leading to realize whatever he’s dreaming. “
I have had teachers like that. I have been led professionally by people who have lived this. Honestly, I have had glimpses of myself and my students with “shining eyes” (as Zander puts it) so I know the possibility exists within
myself. I think it is born of passion. Passion for what you teach. Passion for passing on knowledge that you just know will bring life to the person who takes it in.
That is how I feel about sharing the stories of Jesus and the great love God has for all creation. When children and adults not only hear but absorb that message of love, they cannot help but be changed. And that change sends them out into the world to inspire more possibility in others. The transformation doesn’t come from me but can come through me. I am used to awaken the possibility in other people. What an awe inspiring job description!
~ Pam
A Footnote:
And because the universe is so intricately connected I realized that this same Benjamin Zander is the author of a book one of my colleagues keeps relentlessly suggesting I read and that I finally took off my Amazon wish list and ordered a few days ago: The Art of Possibility. I'll keep you posted!
I love that line! It comes from a TED Talk by Benjamin Zander, conductor of the Boston Philharmonic. I have watched his 20 minute presentation many times. Every time I get goose bumps. As I watch I think to myself that is the kind of teacher/leader I want to be. This is one of the things he says about leadership:
“It's one of the characteristics of a leader that he not doubt for one moment the capacity of the people he’s leading to realize whatever he’s dreaming. “
I have had teachers like that. I have been led professionally by people who have lived this. Honestly, I have had glimpses of myself and my students with “shining eyes” (as Zander puts it) so I know the possibility exists within
myself. I think it is born of passion. Passion for what you teach. Passion for passing on knowledge that you just know will bring life to the person who takes it in.
That is how I feel about sharing the stories of Jesus and the great love God has for all creation. When children and adults not only hear but absorb that message of love, they cannot help but be changed. And that change sends them out into the world to inspire more possibility in others. The transformation doesn’t come from me but can come through me. I am used to awaken the possibility in other people. What an awe inspiring job description!
~ Pam
A Footnote:
And because the universe is so intricately connected I realized that this same Benjamin Zander is the author of a book one of my colleagues keeps relentlessly suggesting I read and that I finally took off my Amazon wish list and ordered a few days ago: The Art of Possibility. I'll keep you posted!
