Tuesday, December 16, 2014

dark angel, red umbrella


After sitting in a stuffy, warm courtroom, listening to counsel ask the same questions, “can you be fair and impartial?” and feeling under the weather, I walked down Mission Street in the steady rain carrying my over the shoulder bag under my coat, covering my head with my hood. I was feeling cold and miserable. At one point I began sneezing uncontrollably; my nose was irritated. A man, in his 40s, from the came from behind and offered, “Are you walking to BART? I can share my umbrella with you.”

I was touched and slightly embarrassed—I must have looked like a cat in the rain. “Thank you. My car is not far in a parking lot.”
 I tapped him on the shoulder, “That is very kind. Thank you.”

It was another block and a half before I got to my car. I thought later I should have taken him up on his generous offer—that by accepting it, he/I would replicate it.

Sometimes angels are handsome Middle Eastern men with red umbrellas.

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Death is our friend

“Death is our friend precisely because it brings us into absolute and passionate presence with all that is here, that is natural, that is love.”

Rilke

Friday, December 5, 2014

El bailarín

© Hector V. Lee, 2014
Felíz cumpleaños Alonso. Tío te quiere!

Do not use tape

© Hector V. Lee, 2014
Happy birthday Mr. Malaspina.


Thursday, November 27, 2014

architects

© Hector V. Lee, 2014
Happy birthday George. Here's to another 50 years! love you.

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Justice

© Hector V. Lee, 2014

Happy Birthday Armando. Wishing you continued blessings.

Monday, November 10, 2014

La Luna

© Hector V. Lee, 2014
Happy birdthay Sister. I love you.

Monday, November 3, 2014

People


People change v people do not change

Sunday, November 2, 2014

My deepest desires


My deepest desires:
  • Integrated healthy relationships
  • Meaningful work
  • Balance
  • Peace

Saturday, November 1, 2014

De noche iremos, de noche


De noche iremos, de noche
Que para encontrar la fuente,
Solo la sed nos alumbra.
Solo la sed nos alumbra.

Friday, October 31, 2014

be careful


Be careful it is not the ego in charge or perfectionism or control.

faith matters


© Hector V. Lee, 2014
This was the card I sent. Darn vandals.
© Hector V. Lee, 2014
happy birthday Adam, my halloween nephew. Love you.

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

You can't sell


You can’t sell what you don’t have in stock.
--Tom

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

la mano


© Hector V. Lee, 2014
felíz cumpleaños Dad. Love you.

Monday, October 27, 2014

If Martha’s way


If Martha’s way of showing love was service then she would not feel put upon. Just because you are unhappy doesn’t mean someone else should be as well.
--Megan Lorenz Pryor

Sunday, October 26, 2014

shalt


Sick Hungry Angry Lonely Tired

Saturday, October 25, 2014

Why


Why do I want to control the way he is?
Why do I want to become the parent for him?

laugh

© Hector V. Lee, 2014
Happy Bday Ramaud. Hope your day is filled with laughter.

Friday, October 24, 2014

When it is good


When it is good, it is abundant. When it’s hard, it is too much.
--Jim Dowling

Thursday, October 23, 2014

games are forbidden in the labyrinth

© Hector V. Lee, 2014
Happy birthday Aaron. Love you collegiate scholar.

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Hemos criado a nuestros hijos


 Hemos criado a nuestros hijos con pan y hambre. Se me hace muy sabio porque así los niños experimentan satisfacción y deseos no cumplidos—los dos son importantes.
--Armida

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

I have anger


I have anger b/c I am encapsulated self-contained and I am tired of always being in charge and being self-sustaining. 

Monday, October 20, 2014

the glory of God


The glory of God is a human fully alive.
--St. Irenaeus 

Sunday, October 19, 2014

as I reveal


As I reveal myself to you maybe you’ll disclose yourself to me.

Shoot. Whatdaya want to know?

Saturday, October 18, 2014

the full circle


The full circle of gratitude is when you have gratitude for your sins.
--Anthony de Mello

Friday, October 17, 2014

I don't think


I don’t think it would be good idea to get involved right now.
The question you asked, Am I available? is a good one.
I have a hard time showing up. I’m not as advanced as you.

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Fr. Ray


Fr. Ray says that rather that turning inward to inner movings and desires I need to see how God is working in my life: What is work asking of me? What are my friends asking of me? What is my family asking of me?
And look in the mirror and say, “I will be kind to myself.”

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Both reason and passion are two friends


Both reason and passion are two friends who accompany you. Reason is the rudder and passion is the wind at the sails.
--Kahlil Gibran

Monday, October 13, 2014

The radio show


The radio show mentioned that it is only when a musician loses himself in the music that he finds himself. C. S. Lewis said it is only when a human being loses herself in a relationship that she finds herself.

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Feel sad, or depressed or dejected,


Feel sad, or depressed or dejected,
Or angry, or embarrassed, or relieved
Or at peace.
It doesn’t matter
What matters is that I feel.

to believe in god is not a mental exercise


to believe in god is not a mental exercise
nor is it a force of will.
In fact, it is a release of will
To fall into the arms of God
Trusting that he will guide us
And lead us on our way.
It is not unlike falling in love
When you’ve let go of control
And allow your self to be taken.

Saturday, October 11, 2014

forgive


Forgive …and forget.
--Richard Clinton 

Let go


Let go of
  • Fear
  • Anger
  • Pride

Love consists


Love consists in sharing what one has and what one is with those one loves.
Love ought to show itself in deeds more than in words.
--St. Ignatius of Loyola

I don't think of breathing


I don’t think of breathing until I am short of breath.
--Maureen Sullivan

the cure


The cure for your loneliness is actually solitude.
--Richard Rohr

Find life experiences


Find life experiences
And swallow them whole.
Travel.
Meet many people.
Go down some dark alleys.
Try everything.
Exhaust yourself in the
Glorious pursuit of life.
--laurence K. Fish

Friday, October 10, 2014

you are writing a gospel


You are writing a gospel
A chapter each day—
By deeds that you do
By words that you say.
Men read what you write
Whether faithless or true,
What is the gospel
According to you?
 
--Paul Gilbert

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

press pass

© Hector V. Lee, 2014
hippie bday Eddie. Love you. :)

Thursday, September 25, 2014

el nopal

© Hector V. Lee, 2014
happy birthday Connie. Abrazos & felicidades

Saturday, September 6, 2014

Negro Leagues Baseball

© Hector V. Lee, 2014
Happy birthday Abraham. Tío te quiere.

Friday, August 29, 2014

happy birthday Robert

© Hector V. Lee, 2014
love you my brother.

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

You have turned my mourning into dancing.

© Hector V. Lee, 2014
Happy birthday Catherine. Wishing you many blessings.

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Love

Love
by Mary Sarten

Fragile as a spider’s web
Hanging in space
Between tall grasses,
It is torn again and again.
A passing dog
Or simply the wind can do it.
Several times a day
I gather myself together
And spin it again.

Spiders are patient weavers.
They never give up.
And who knows
What keeps them at it?
Hunger, no doubt,
And hope.

******
AMDG

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

of mollusks

Of mollusks
by Mary Sarten

As the tide rises, the closed mollusk
Opens a fraction to the ocean’s food,
Bathed in its riches. Do not ask
What force would do, or if force could.

A knife is of no use against a fortress
You might break it to pieces as gulls do.
No, only the rising tide and its slow progress
Opens the shell. Lovers, I tell you true.

You have held yourselves closed hard
Against warm sun and wind, shelled up in fears
And hostile to a touch or tender word
The ocean rises, salt as unshed tears.

Now you are floated on this gentle flood
That cannot force or be forced, welcome food
Salt as you tears, the rich ocean’s blood,
Eat, rest, be nourished on the tide of love.


Tuesday, July 29, 2014

you are writing a gospel

You are writing a gospel,
A chapter each day—
By deeds that you do,
By words that you say.
Men read what you write,
Whether faithless or true,
What is the gospel
According to you?

--Anon

Monday, July 28, 2014

My hat is in the ring: Principal

“Remember where you came from.” Approach the job with a great sense of humility and don’t ask from persons things they cannot give you.  –Teresa

Sept 2009
I have had a difficult week. I have never seen it this bad: Six teachers are in survival mode, as is the principal. The pressing issue is discipline. It is only the 4th week of school and we are having serious issues: 2 false fire alarms I two days, 7 suspensions in the last week. We especially have not been connecting to our African American students who make up 18% of the population but 90% of the discipline issues. I have been in several classrooms where competent engaging teachers are having difficulties—they feel they are not effective and I feel I am not effective.
Drew says I need to leave this position and “not be a social worker but teach”

If you don’t know something, ask. --Kathleen

October 2009
At Teachers for Social Justice, a recurring pronouncement made was “if you can’t teach children of color, then please leave and let someone else do the job.”

When you start observing teachers, go in with nothing—no computer, no clipboard, etc. Establish relationships. --Dina

February 2010
On Tuesday, I had S stay after school fo bench time he owed for last week and that day. I unfortunately had had negative interactions with ho on the basketball court as I had him play with D. He questioned why this was and I responded, “I need to keep you away from everyone.” When it should have only bee nthe 3 boys with whom he had been suspended.
When I came to pick him up, he refused to come. He stayed hin his room. I began to work there and help sunny paint, with which S wanted to participate. I wanted to talk with him, but he refuse. I finally call his mother and he followed me to my room. He said he hated me. I have never felt hate that way. I know students express frustration to me but I had never experienced hate. He did stay with me short of the 40 minutes but I realized that while I had won the battle, I was losing the war. The objective of benching the child wasn’t so he’d hate me but to have thim change his behavior and I was losing miserably.

Ask for a coach, a veteran principal you can learn from. –Peter

December 2010
I decided to apply to the PLI. I realize that I need to grow in my capacity as a professional. Regardless, I do not want to be a Principal—yet I see the need for leadership. If not I, who? I see that it is now my generation’s turn to take the reins of leadership; we cannot rely on an older generation t continue the work of leading. It falls to the present generation. I must take up the call to serve and lead.

Make time for yourself.
If everyone is happy, you are doing something wrong. --Jennifer

August 2011
I must discern principalship or not. I don’t want it. But is it what God wants?
Or is it th voiced I hear inadvertently or on to be one. And if not Princpalship, hen what? If God wants me to be a principal, he will have to let me know.

Define your relationships with the staff separately from your principal. --Matt

May 2012
I  met with Dee Dee to ask her for guidance, “I’ve been a an IRF for 9 years and I am feeling it is time to make a change but I don’t know if being a Principal is it.”
Years ago a former Assistant Superintendent asked me to be a principal, “Do you know how many Latino principals there are in SFUSD?  I can count them on my hand.” I responded that if I became a Principal, I would not have time to do art. . I also didn’t want to be a principal so I could work on my personal life. But now I don’t do any commercial art and I am not seeing anyone; and just because I have someone does not mean he would be my balm.
So Dee Dee says to me, “ So you become a Principal, try it for a year. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to do it.” It is true. I can go back to the classroom. It is OK to fail.

Leadership is an action not a position. PD is a process not an event.  –E’leva

“Congratulations on your new job.”
“Thank you,” I respond. “ask me again in six months.”

Take time to establish your relationships. --Brent


Today was my first day as an administrator. People ask me, “Are you excited?” I respond that if I had won a $1,000,000, I would be excited. This is a job. I am looking forward to it.