Faithfulness

Years ago at a workshop, someone handed me a piece of paper with this passage on Faithfulness handwritten on it.

I think of this passage often in relation to homeschooling. Every once in a while, we catch a glimpse of who our child is becoming ~ a new capacity emerging, a strength we hadn’t quite seen before, or simply a clearer picture of the unique person in front of us.

And then come all the ordinary days when that picture isn’t nearly so clear.

Perhaps faithfulness in homeschooling is partly about trusting what we’ve glimpsed in those moments ~ continuing to show up, trusting our instincts, and giving our children the time and space to become more fully themselves.

This passage has always felt like a beautiful reminder to hold onto the best of what we have seen in one another, even when it’s difficult to see in the moment. It’s written by Rudolf Steiner, but I’m not even sure what lecture or book it’s from. (If you know, do tell!)

Faithfulness

Create for yourself a new, indomitable perception of faithfulness. What is usually called faithfulness passes so quickly. Let this be your new faithfulness:

You will experience moments – fleeting moments – with the other person. The human being will appear to you then as if filled, irradiated with a spirit archetype.

And then there may be – indeed, will be – other moments, long periods of time when human beings are darkened. But you will learn to say to yourself at such times: “The spirit makes me strong. I remember the archetype. I saw it once. No illusion, no deception shall rob me of it.”

Always struggle for the image that you saw. This struggle is faithfulness. Striving thus for faithfulness, we shall be close to one another, as if endowed with the protective power of angels.

                                                                                   ~Rudolf Steiner