Thanking Our Teachers

I have gone to take lessons from my teachers several times this year.

Each time I am humbled by how much they know, how much they have learned, and most importantly how much they are willing to pass on.

I can imagine them so many years ago, taking their first fumbling steps in learning a new art, walking into a classroom like I did. Not knowing what they were getting into, their heart probably trembling with nervousness, and taking those first steps, making those first touches.

And then loving what they learned, and practicing and practicing, year after year. And then decade after decade. Facing challenges and failures, learning from their mistakes, their techniques getting more refined. Learning what can only be learned with year after year of effort and experience.

And then, standing before us and giving it all to us, passing it all along.

And when a teacher gives you everything, you can feel it. It’s electric, as they hold nothing back, save nothing, are completely generous with their knowledge, even while knowing that they are giving the best of themselves away.

Humanity is where it is today because of the great teachers and masters of history.

We, the human race, are like a rocket ship sailing through a vast dark sky to an unknown destination. Knowledge is the fuel that burns our way across the sky. Our teachers learn and learn for decades, and then they take everything they know and they give it to us.

They ignite us, so that we can begin the journey where they ended it, so that we can take this beautiful rocket ship higher and higher into the infinite sky.

There is no reason to all of this, except to live, to strive, to uplift the human beings around us. And to keep learning and sharing, even as each generation fades away but hopefully leaves that bright burning fuel that will get us all closer to our ultimate destination.

And so I give my deepest thanks to the teachers who gave us this amazing gift.