Pigeons and Wagon Wheels

June 29, 2026

The other day, I noticed some pigeons congregating near the school. I watched and listened to them go about their bird-y business for a few moments.  It reminded me of an in-service I attended once upon a time. The presenter described professional development days as “Heads-up” time. He likened teachers to pigeons. He said pigeons typically run with their heads down. Every so often they stop dead, put their heads up and take their bearings, and then they put their heads down and charge forward in a new direction.

I don’t really know if what he said was accurate, I’m also not sure if it is the most flattering comparison I have ever heard, but he posed an interesting point that is worth thinking about. Spiritual writer Henri Nouwen describes this phenomenon using a different analogy. Our lives, he writes, are like wagon wheels, with many spokes emanating from a central hub. When we run around the edge of the wheel from spoke to spoke, we can never touch them all and we run the risk of exhausting our energies. If we pull in to the center hub, our perspective changes and we can touch them all at once. This phenomenon is certainly not exclusive to those of us in the education field; it applies to our personal spiritual journey. The trick, of course, is finding the time to put our heads up and check out our direction. This time to re-evaluate our priorities is essential, but often we get so caught up in the day to day running of our lives, that stepping back, or finding our center, is nigh impossible.

After the hustle and bustle of the school year and June’s breakneck pace, I am looking forward to summer and its natural pause. It’s a blessing to have some time to consider the year that has past and all that it held. As I looked back at the school calendars to prepare this newsletter, I noted that, as usual, they are filled with activities, events and reminders. These are aspects of the year, certainly, but what I most want to remember and reflect on are the moments of connection, relationship and camaraderie that have made up the past ten months. There are times when we have laughed out loud, rejoiced with each other and celebrated. Conversely, there are times when we have wept, raged and mourned. Regardless, “we” is the operative word; the journey is shared. That is one of the great blessings of being part of a community, and I am so very thankful for the community we have built together.

So whether your preference is pigeons or wagon wheels,  I hope that you find time over the coming months to put your head up (along with your feet), find that quiet center and reflect on all that is important to you. I hope that you have a beautiful, blessed summer with your family and I look forward to charging ahead into the new school year together with you all!

Peace,

Christine McInnis