“Dad, I’ve got so much stuff!” This is not something you would expect to hear in a society where we are so busy collecting ‘stuff’.
And by stuff, I mean the many ‘things’ that we are conditioned to want, although we often talk about them as ‘needs’ (the new phone we ‘need’ or the outfits we ‘need’). When you’re tripping over your children’s toys, the amount of stuff we collect suddenly becomes painfully evident!
“Dad, I’ve got so much stuff!”. This real line spoken by a former student after returning from a mission trip living in a remote village without electricity or running water. This is also one of my favourite stories from my time living and travelling in developing countries. One of the greatest reflections that students often share from these trips is about themselves and our society. They are often struck by our wealth and our individuality (and consequent isolation from one another) and our children are exposed to this attitude from a young age.
““Dad, I’ve got so much stuff!”. This real line spoken by a former student...”
As a society, we spend a lot of time encouraging our young people to know who they are, to express themselves, to speak up, to talk about the things that matter to them, to navigate their own path, and to communicate their wants, needs and hopes. At the same time, we have become less confident in sharing who ‘we’ are collectively. Whether this is at a national, family or local level, there seems to be more emphasis on people finding themselves and their own path and less emphasis on the connecting points and shared values which are becoming increasingly contested. The danger is, that we leave our children without the anchor points that will build confident and compassionate young people.
As parents we are responsible for the education and grounding of our children. At Calvin Christian School we have the privilege of partnering with you in this responsibility. Our curriculum, staffing, and programmes tell a coherent message to our young people that they are the creation of a loving God who calls them to live lives that reflect His glory and grace, transforming their communities through simple acts of love and compassion. Ultimately, our identity and our children’s should rest in Jesus and, as faithful followers of him, we seek to live lives of meaning and purpose, connected to transforming communities.
Scott Ambrose — Principal