Hello,
It has been years (an awful lot of them) since September greeted me with
the ringing of the school bell.
Even though decades have passed, I remember with clarity that seems
recent, the anticipation of what the upcoming year might bring….what it might
bring with the teacher that I was hoping not to get, what it might bring with
the heavy academic load, what it might bring with getting back together with
people for whom to say they were friends would be a grand understatement, what
it might bring as my formal educational life was coming to an end. Some of those memories are fond….others
sour.
As I listen to many Christian people, I hear a sour word of fear about education.
Some are fearful that the things that kids might learn in school will lead them
away from the faith. Some are
afraid that the values that students will learn in school will overwhelm the
values of their faith. Some are
afraid that the activities that go hand in hand with school will steal them
away from their participation in their faith.
Although I see kids following pied pipers of the world, adopting values
that don’t mirror Christ, and becoming too busy for the things of faith….I
don’t find myself putting the onus on the schools and education. I believe that nothing has greater
grasping power than the grace of God.
I believe that nothing has greater talent in character formation than
the Holy Spirit. And I believe that nothing can bring greater delight than
being part of God’s work of making all things new. So, I tend to believe that the onus might more honestly lie
with us…we who have been given this Gospel light of
unmatched brilliance to shine.
Maybe the fears that we have of education come for the possibility that
we have been a bit guilty of hiding the Gospel light under a bushel basket – a
basket woven of rigid rules, of judgmental ears to questions, and blinded eyes
to our own sins.
The truth is, that with God’s Gospel light falling upon the things that
kids learn in school, I am certain that their learning will give them even more
for which to praise God when they come to understand the intricacies of
creation and that it is all held together. When God’s Gospel light shines upon a student’s relationship to their neighbor and the
world, I am certain that they will discover the dynamism of being a grace-full
person that far outshines even being a good person. When God’s Gospel light shines upon the accolades that the world
can give, I am certain that their shimmer will pale compared to being called a
Child of God.
So tomorrow as you get on the bus, hop on your bike, walk through the
campus, or take your place in an online class…or watch your child do so …do so with
adventure and expectant surprise, because with the bushel atop Gospel light
sent tumbling by this Bungee Cord, I assure you that God’s grace will be “lamp
unto your feet, and a light unto your path”.
Have a great day.
God’s grace and peace, (ggap)
Pastor Jerry Nuernberger
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