From
2008-2011, I taught a course at Naropa University in Contemplative
Christianity. The students gave the class a high rating in large part, I
believe, because I am very passionate both about the subject and about
teaching. At the end of that time period, Naropa hired a full-time
professor and then gave him my class to fill out his schedule - even
though he has no interest in Contemplative Christianity
and doesn't even consider it to be "Christian"! Then, two days before
the Spring 2014 semester began, I was rehired to teach the course
because of an ongoing dispute between the faculty member and the
university. However, when that dispute is settled, I will once again be
laid off. Ah, the life of an adjunct professor!
This past week, I attended a department meeting at which the faculty member was present, an occasion which signaled to me that the two parties are making progress in their negotiations. I found that a very difficult event to attend, because I must still somehow maintain the passion to finish out the course, knowing that I will again be axed once the class is over. As so often occurs in life, the things we cherish are actually quite impermanent and exist in a continual state of flux.
However, I find it consoling to remember my favorite natural phenomenon: the alpenglow. Although the beautiful ruddy color suffusing the mountain peaks at sunrise and sunset lasts only a few brief minutes, it continues to color the mood of all of my subsequent weeks spent in town. Indeed, whenever I want to picture the humble presence of Christ radiating out from my heart and melting all things together in its warm glow of love, I picture the alpenglow. Similarly, difficult though it is to maintain my passion for teaching the class, especially knowing that it will soon end, I find it helpful to envision myself as a sort of human embodiment of the alpenglow, a phenomenon which is noble and honorable even though it lasts for only a brief time. Besides, I know that alpenglow is a cyclic phenomenon, occurring as it does every time the horizon is cloudless. Similarly, I need to make a practice of trusting that some other meaningful university teaching opportunity will someday eventually arise!
Photo: Alpenglow on Medicine Bow Peak with the moon shining above; Snowy Range, WY; August 24, 2013
This past week, I attended a department meeting at which the faculty member was present, an occasion which signaled to me that the two parties are making progress in their negotiations. I found that a very difficult event to attend, because I must still somehow maintain the passion to finish out the course, knowing that I will again be axed once the class is over. As so often occurs in life, the things we cherish are actually quite impermanent and exist in a continual state of flux.
However, I find it consoling to remember my favorite natural phenomenon: the alpenglow. Although the beautiful ruddy color suffusing the mountain peaks at sunrise and sunset lasts only a few brief minutes, it continues to color the mood of all of my subsequent weeks spent in town. Indeed, whenever I want to picture the humble presence of Christ radiating out from my heart and melting all things together in its warm glow of love, I picture the alpenglow. Similarly, difficult though it is to maintain my passion for teaching the class, especially knowing that it will soon end, I find it helpful to envision myself as a sort of human embodiment of the alpenglow, a phenomenon which is noble and honorable even though it lasts for only a brief time. Besides, I know that alpenglow is a cyclic phenomenon, occurring as it does every time the horizon is cloudless. Similarly, I need to make a practice of trusting that some other meaningful university teaching opportunity will someday eventually arise!
Photo: Alpenglow on Medicine Bow Peak with the moon shining above; Snowy Range, WY; August 24, 2013
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