It must seem strange to our children when they hear contradictory messages about who they are and the purpose of their lives.
Often the messages that they are hearing are that ‘it is all about you’, ‘your future is for you’ and ‘you are number one’. Whilst we want our children to feel loved and supported, there is a radical alternative vision of life that they would do well to imitate. An alternative that assigns value not to a self-aggrandising and self-centred view of our lives and futures, but one that calls us to put ourselves second, to consider others first, and even to serve one another.
Taking the language of the humble, this alternative view would encourage our children to develop a sense of confidence based not in their own strengths or sense of entitlement. It calls us to a radically different lifestyle and choices made for the benefit of others. With all of the distressing stories of ‘me-first’ actions that are echoing through our parliament and streets in the news at the moment, wouldn’t it be remarkable to see more individuals putting concern for others ahead of their own needs.
“Good Friday is a stark reminder of the power of selfless action. ”
Good Friday is a stark reminder of the power of selfless action. One man chose to prefer others ahead of himself in an action that brought hope and an eternal future to mankind. Paul, a follower of Jesus, wrote of his action that “…he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross!” What a powerful antidote to the ‘me-centred’ world in which we are raising our children.
Jesus’ act on that day around 2,000 years ago continues to resonate through the centuries. As you and your family remember Good Friday and celebrate Easter Sunday together, I would encourage you to watch and share the links below where members of our humanities staff have reflected on Easter for our school community in a series entitled Better Story, Better God.
May the God of hope speak to you and your family this Easter as we remember Jesus’ call to a radically different lifestyle for us, for our children, and for our communities in a way that will ultimately transform lives.
Scott Ambrose — Principal