Because I am an educator of the young I have always welcomed lessons in humility learned from my experience of nature in the Now of my Day. Here is one for your perusal and perhaps inspiration for the times you are with children.

The tiny ones are right here – these Florida ants – look at ‘em right there at my gigantic feet – little creatures scurrying along busy at ant work, often alone and absolutely filled with singular purpose at some job that will get done no matter what the obstacles. They are the willed creatures – brave, determined dynamos. No job is too big once chosen by their wild intentionality. And when they become determined to take on some important task, together they are able to move a mountain from here to there. Lickety-split, just like that! Be it night or day, it gets done before you or I even know it has been taking place. They do it in perfect fashion, all following an agreed-upon strategy, a plan blueprinted by some angel upon each ant mind/heart/soul. They each know just what to do, so they need no bossy supervisor shouting orders at them. No, they know as if they were one ant just what they all are to do to get this, their work, done well.

I look down upon them from on high with true humble respect. I have to squint to see ‘em. These Florida ants are so minuscule, they are easy to miss and step upon. Oh no! I must be careful! Such a massive gargantuan hulk of bones, muscles, and flesh am I, stomping along with such huge feet (and usually oblivious of where I am putting them down).

Holey Smoley! What a monster I must seem to be to them! What fear would fill me if some such giant of a goon suddenly came pounding like Godzilla into the happy-go-lucky, mundane, ordinary life of my here and now – carelessly crushing, wrecking, and destroying everything – smasherooney! Thank God I am kind and care about the tiny ones. The tiny ants of Florida need not fear me – I have my eye on 'em.

Paul Clement Czaja, Ph.D., has been involved in the Montessori movement of alternative education for more than 45 years. Dr. Czaja was on the founding faculty and, eventually, headmaster at the famous Whitby School, The American Montessori Center, in Greenwich, Connecticut, from 1960 until 1979. He has been involved in Montessori teacher training for many years, and has worked with Montessori public charter schools as well as independent schools. He can be reached at czaja36@yahoo.com.