A message from our Principal, Mr Waltisbuhl
“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Rom 5:3-5)
The apostle Paul adds this passage to a plethora of scripture that encourages believers to persevere in the face of challenge. But he doesn’t suggest we just grin and bear it alone. He reminds the faithful in Rome that they journey with the strength available to them through Christ’s love and the gift of the Holy Spirit at work in them. What great news!
I’m currently reading a book by Angela Duckworth called Grit. As a schoolteacher turned psychologist, she puts forward a well-argued hypothesis that a combination of passion and resilience is the secret to success in life. She believes that our ongoing effort counts twice as much as our natural ability or giftedness.
It seems to me that getting our goals sorted (ie deciding what we will be passionate about) gives us a reason to persist and develop ‘grit’. As for the Christians of the early Church, they were passionate about sharing the good news of a resurrected Christ, and they were willing to endure the challenges of this ‘mission’. This begs the question for us as students, parents, and teachers in 2024; what is it that God is laying on our hearts, and are we ready to partner with Him, enduring the challenges that may come our way?
Duckworth writes, “My compass, once I found all the parts and put it together, keeps me pointing in the same direction, week after month after year”. My prayer is that Christ Jesus remains your ‘true north’ and that the Word of God is your map in hand for the journey ahead.