In his quest to take the ring of power which is putting Middle Earth into terror and darkness back to the volcano where it was forged, Frodo, the hobbit in Tolkein’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’ comments to Gandalf the wise, “I wish it need not have happened in my time”, in relation to his redemptive task. “So do I,” said Gandalf “and so do all who live in such times. But that is not for us to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” [1]
John Boyton Priestly, a social commentator, in the late 1920’s said, “We are perpetually disillusioned. The perfect life is set before us every day but it changes and withers at a touch.” [2] Stories of freedom to be whatever you want to be and material prosperity constantly enchant and blind our imaginations. But it seems in every age, events of the day shatter our illusions that we can be masters of our own destinies. From the sinking of the Titanic in 1912, the tragedies of 9/11 and the South-East Asian tsunami in the early part of this century and the current global health crisis, our finitude and frailty as human beings is reaffirmed. It seems there are more questions than answers and in the complex search for answers, we wish that God might communicate more clearly to us for teachers are meant to have answers!
But we know that reality is both the seen and the unseen. The glorious Gospel of Christ has made the living God visible. Through His Gospel work, God reached down from heaven to earth and now dwells in His temple. In the faces of our brothers and sisters in Christ, the living stones, we see the light of Jesus shining in the darkness. Having received the abundance of God’s grace, we are to embody the spiritual blessings we have received in Christ.
As you read this, reflect on and marvel at the myriad of ways your colleagues have embodied kindness and compassion as you have struggled to do learning differently. Consider the many acts of hospitality offered without grumbling to students and families. Ponder the words of your leaders that have directed your hearts to the Lord, and strengthened your spirit so that you can continue to persevere. Many words of unshakeable hope will have been shared with the members of your community. This is staff “faithfully using their gifts to minister God’s grace” [3] for such a time as this.
One parent wrote a letter of thanks to her child’s school for all they are doing “… I’m so grateful to be part of our school community and enjoying the opportunity to connect more deeply with God and my daughter. It has been so far a time of reflection, reassessment of my priorities and an opportunity to strengthen my faith and increase my compassion and empathy for others …”
If we look closely, we can see God at work through us as we strain toward the One who is making all things new. May our students see in us the face of Jesus as we love and serve our school communities in these strange days. For what other God communicates to us so personally and through the lives of those who reflect His heart.
Grace and Peace
The Team
The Excellence Centre
[1] Tolkien, JRR. The Lord of the Rings Pg1
[2] Priestly, JB. The Disillusioned (Balconing and Other Essays 1929)
[3] 1 Peter 4:10