Recently I was reflecting on my life— more specifically my struggle to complete assignments for the course I am enrolled in—I couldn’t help but compare my past achievements with my current challenges. In my previous assignment, I received a High Distinction, I was happy. However, with my latest assignment, I found myself questioning if I had done enough to secure a passing grade, perhaps settling for a credit. The flow of my work seemed elusive, and I couldn’t pinpoint the reason behind this disparity. Both instances saw me burning the midnight oil (admittedly due to poor time management), dozing off on my keyboard at times.
The common thread in both situations was my packed days, requiring me to work on assignments during the night. The difference, however, lay in the nature of my daylight activities. The first assignment was completed amidst physical exertion, busily renovating and cleaning a house. However, in contrast, the second assignment coincided with a whirlwind of mental activities and various challenges that required more of my headspace. Coming up with solutions and problem-solving issues that often spilt over into the following day. So, where am I going with all this, you might ask, and frankly, I am pondering the same question 😊.
I believe my musings lead to a critical realisation and one the Lord put on my heart to share with our teaching staff: Our students grapple with a myriad of thoughts and dilemmas. We urge them to ponder on their studies, life choices, and their relationship with God. However, we may often lack insight into their personal stories. What occupies their minds? How much of their day and night is consumed by contemplation and problem-solving? In my assignments, I was tasked with reflecting on my thought process and forming opinions aligned with God’s teachings. In today’s world, dominated by devices and societal agendas, how much mental bandwidth do our students have for such introspection?
I propose a solution: what if our team could spare just 15 minutes every week to sit down with each student, understanding their unique challenges and tailoring our support accordingly? I understand our teachers have 5 classes of 28 students multiplied by 15 minutes equate to 35 hours. Ok that is impractical! I may have forgotten that the team need time for grading, feedback, lesson planning, and teaching and life.
However, I was then reminded of a devotion recently shared by one of our staff, reminding us of the importance of being attentive to the Holy Spirit as we minister to the children God has entrusted to us. Perhaps it’s not about dedicating individual time slots to each student; instead, it’s about the collective efforts of spiritually inclined individuals, allowing themselves to be guided by the Spirit. Maybe we can offer words of encouragement, prayers, recommended readings, quotes, or relevant Bible verses. We must teach our children the value of stillness, enabling them to connect with God so He can spend 15 minutes with them. We all need moments of quiet reflection to foster profound thoughts in the stillness of our minds.
It has been stated that those who continue growing in love with God and his world, are people marked by three habits of heart:
- They figured out a way of looking at life that made sense to them, dealing with the challenge of finding truth and consistency in a world that’s becoming less religious and has different beliefs.
- They became friends with a teacher whose life reflected the same way of thinking they were learning about.
- They joined a group of people who also believed in the same way of looking at life, and they all supported each other in understanding and living by these principles.
My prayer and encouragement to our team is this;
If you are unsure how to begin this wholehearted relationship with God, it begins with a simple, wholehearted prayer. I have written a short prayer for anyone who would like to begin that relationship today.
May our lives serve as a reflection of Christ’s teachings, and guide the young men and women in our care as they navigate life and their relationship with God.
Let us facilitate an environment where our children can journey together with us in pursuit of truth.
My prayer for you and your family is that you also will be led by the Holy Spirit to hear His voice and receive His guidance.
In the busyness of year-end, may you be still and know God’s love and closeness like never before.
Amen.
Have a blessed week.
Mr Brett Costin
Head of Campus – Middle & Secondary
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