hold onto the stories

 

work at remembering

CFS approached its 60th anniversary

of working to be there for its students,

to be there so that staff can find their way

onto a path that lets them share

the gifts of who they are,

as the students share the gifts of who they are,

it seemed important to me

to record and share the stories

that our aging staff lived with the fullness of themselves,

as they answered the calling that grabbed them at their heart,

so a way opened, 

and many of CFS's former staff stepped forward

and risked the opening of their hearts

and the crafting of their words

to release what needed to be remembered,

the book, Callings and Answers, is now a reality,

and 33 views of CFS are recorded--

in the last year two of those staff contributing

have died and have gone beyond us,

I am glad that their stories did not 

go away completely with their passing,

years ago I learned a lesson

that by the time we realize

we want to hear and remember a person's stories,

often that person has just left us,

and the answers to our questions are silent,

how wonderful it is, and can be,

to not give in to easy procrastination,

and, instead, choose to open self

and to risk owning one's own stories,

sharing each unique take on it all,

as students and teachers are personal, true, and deep

in a school where truth is continually revealed, and noticed.

by Henry H. Walker

November 2, ‘25