Exhausted, exhilarated, and desperate for feedback, I was completely focused on my mentor teacher. “I really appreciated the creative way you engaged the students in the content. Clearly you have both a passion for teaching and a real love of young people,” came the evaluation of my time at the helm leading the class. All tiredness had evaporated from my being as I was completely filled with energy and excitement by these words.
And then came the big surprise, “It’s time for me to step aside and for you to take full responsibility for the classroom.” Wait! What? And then in a very intentional and measured way my mentor teacher said, “You are ready…the students are ready…I’m ready for you…for you to be THE teacher.”
This was an incredibly poignant moment for me, and one I have looked back upon and leaned on countless times in my life. I learned a great deal from my mentor teacher, but the long lasting life lesson was how to pass the baton.
This last week we witnessed a very public hand off and a stepping aside. One that came with significant reluctance, encouragement, and in the end deep thoughtfulness.
Relinquishing not only that which is our passion and purpose but in many respects our identity is extremely challenging. These times of letting go and letting others take the lead may in fact be the most courageous of our lives both personally and professionally. Whether leaving your very small child with another person for the first time or handing your life’s work off – it can be gut wrenching.
And yet, this handing off and stepping aside is one of the most central acts of our life journey. The reality in the end is that we are seasonal workers. There are folks who came before us and there are folks who come after us. Ours is to fully embrace when the “work” is in our care and to have the wisdom and courage to know when it’s time to hand the work to others.
And here’s the good news, once we hand it over and step aside a new season also begins to emerge for us to embrace and flourish.
May love and laughter
Light your days
And warm your heart and home;
May good and faithful friends be yours
Wherever you may roam;
May peace and plenty bless your world
With joy that long endures;
May all life’s passing seasons
Bring the best to you and yours!
~ Traditional Irish Blessing
BP