Barry Smith - Learning about Learning

Tonight I finished my first reading of the Fifth Discipline by Peter Senge.  I know it will not be the last.  It is a really challenging book, I have found it particularly so given my choice to undertake the SQH.  As much philosophy as pragmatism, very inspirational.

I have to share some words from the end of the book by a Lebanese writer, painter and sculptor called Kahlil Gibran “who, in speaking of parents and children, captured the special sense of responsibility without posessiveness felt by leaders towards their vision”, (I would argue anyone, not just ‘leaders’ towards their personal vision).  Even if you disagree with Senge’s comments, I think the words themselves are beautiful:

Your children are not your children.

They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.

They come through you but not from you,

And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts.

For they have their own thoughts.

You may house their bodies but not their souls,

For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.

You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.

For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.

Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness;

For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.

Can’t really add anything to that so I don’t think I’ll try!