Thank You To The Passing Year

TO THE GURU OF THE PASSING YEAR

To the Guru of the passing year
I bow, and say Namaste!
I behold the divine in you
I pause, and say thank you
for every teaching

though I am a poor student
don't finish my assignments
want credit for it all
yearn for recess
fall asleep during class

need a bell to wake up
yet love learning as light
loves the empty room
at the end of the day

thank you
for the teachings that woke me
and for those I slept through

I walk out with a nod of your blessing
as the door of this year closes behind me.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian from her book of poetry The Moon Reminded Me

(A note from the author: Guru is a Sanskrit word meaning teacher, the light that removes the darkness of ignorance. The term can apply to one's teacher; to God, the Teacher of all teachers; or to Life itself with its inherent tendency to support spiritual awakening and the fulfillment of its purposes.)

We have sent this poem out before but we think it is a wonderful reminder that as we are moving into the new year this week, we look back on what we are grateful for from this past year. We are not perfect, ("didn't finish my assignments... fell asleep during class") but can be reassured that as we enter the new year we can learn new lessons with the blessing of the guru, whatever we perceive that teacher to be.