History Makers – Celebrating Mums

One of the many things that has come out of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the reconnection of families. The time spent together has reignited relationships at home.

Whilst I acknowledge that not all family structures are the same, for many, this Sunday is a day of celebration and honouring. As we celebrate Mother’s Day in 2020, it may look quite different to any other year due to travel restrictions, social distancing measures or isolation factors. One thing is true: we are all part of history.

Speaking of history, according to abc.net.au, the origins of Mother’s Day in Australia finds its roots during the years of the American Civil War (1861–1865) and is accredited to ‘American writer and women's rights activist Julia Ward Howe who appealed to women to unite and bring peace throughout the world’. Whilst still just an ideal, it wasn’t until 1908 that her idea gained traction at the hands of Anna Marie Jarvis. Jarvis held a church service to honour the legacy of her mother Ann Reeves Jarvis who had been a peace activist, had nursed wounded soldiers during the Civil war and had held mother’s work club days to address public health issues.

“At the heart of it all, however, remains the strength, resilience and courage of all those who get to call themselves “mum””

She wished to see the work of her mother continued, and in 1914 her campaign paid off as the then president of the USA, Woodrow Wilson, declared that every year, the second Sunday in May would be recognised as Mother’s Day.

Having suffered losses during WWI, Australia was to wait until 1924 before celebrating Mother’s Day. A Sydney woman named Janet Heyden had become concerned for the well-being of some aged and forgotten mothers at Newington State Hospital, and rallied support from schools and local businesses to donate gifts for the ladies.

As time has progressed, so too has the nature of the celebrations. There remains the recognition and the gifts, and there have since been opportunities to gather as families near and extended.

At the heart of it all, however, the strength, resilience and courage of all those who get to call themselves “mum” remains. When Sunday comes around and it is Mother’s Day across Australia and elsewhere around the world, our beloved mums in the Calvin community may not get to have the reunions with the family as they deserve, but please know, that though we may be physically apart from you, we are together, thankful and inspired by who you are to us.

Happy Mother’s Day and may God bless you today and always.

Ken Holloway – Director of Operations

Surprising Joys of Social Isolation

I wonder how we will remember 2020.

For some people, memories of the COVID-19 crisis will be dominated by the heartache caused by loss of lives. Others will find their memories centred on fear and anxiety, as rapid change impacted their jobs and daily lives. Many people will no doubt retell stories of empty supermarket shelves and closed schools and businesses.

I am hoping that at least some people will also remember 2020 as a time of rediscovery.

While I don’t seek to diminish the turmoil and loss being felt by many during the pandemic, I have rediscovered much joy over the past few months.

“I am hoping that at least some people will also remember 2020 as a time of rediscovery.”

My experience of ‘real’ social isolation began at the end of first term. I was tired before the Easter break began and soon discovered that spending time cooped inside with teenage children was not the best remedy for fatigue. But as the days went on, we reconnected as a family and enjoyed time just ‘being.’ I rode my bike, planned a new landscaping project and played with our new kitten. I even joined my church service remotely while in my pyjamas (making sure the camera was off!).

As a person who normally thrives on the busyness of people, organising and planning, I found surprising pleasure in solitude. It took a global health crisis to discover the joy of a slower, more reflective life.

This week, as we commenced a new term I asked my colleagues to indicate an unexpected joy that they had discovered in isolation. Their responses came quickly. For one person, it was building a treehouse. Another had learnt to crochet. Several were surprised by the increased connection with friends and family via technology. Others relished the opportunity to spend quality time with their children. Many loved just being still.

These surprising joys would most likely have remained undiscovered without a crisis.

In Ecclesiastes 3, Solomon reminds us that there is a time for everything under the sun. There is “a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak”.

We have been assured by our political leaders that the time for social distancing will pass and there will be a time for ‘normal life’ again, whatever that may look like.

But I hope to remember 2020 as a time for silence, stillness and unexpected joy in the midst of a crisis.

Bonny Moroni – Head of Secondary

Easter Victory!

We live in a fallen world and now, more than at any other time in our lives.

“We serve a faithful God!”

We cannot forget that we serve a God who loves us so much that He gave us His beloved Son. Perhaps this Easter, so unlike any other Easter we have celebrated, we should ask God for opportunities to speak, albeit from a ‘distance’, of His love to those who are overwhelmed by the anxieties brought about through the COVID-19 pandemic. We serve a faithful God!

It is easy to be overwhelmed by what we read, watch and hear through the media. I have found myself searching for some counterbalance from Christian sources. I am praying for God’s miraculous intervention but learning that I have a responsibility too. Two people I admire have challenged me. The first is an evangelist who is now with Jesus, Reinhard Bonnke. He wrote in his book, Faith, about the need for an active faith.

“The point here is that both responses were from people serving the living God; one response was from a perspective of fear and the other from one of faith.”

His exposition of 1 Samuel 17, the story of David and Goliath, describes two responses to what was happening. As Goliath blasphemed against the God of Israel, King Saul and all Israel ‘were dismayed and greatly afraid’ (v11) but David said ‘Let no man’s heart fail because of [Goliath]; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine’ (v32). The point here is that both responses were from people serving the living God; one response was from a perspective of fear and the other from one of faith. Whereas the professional soldiers assessed the situation and compared themselves to Goliath and the Philistines, David, a man of active faith, placed Goliath next to Israel’s God and saw a defeated enemy.  Bonnke challenges us to fan our faith so that we keep our eyes focused on the Lord and not allow it to be overwhelmed by fear. He wrote, ‘Rather than allowing the challenging circumstances in … life and in the world around you to paralyse and intimidate you, allow them to stoke the fire in your heart …. [and] discover the great resources God has invested into your life and the anointing He has given you.’

The second person who has challenged me is Rod Thompson, who was going to be the speaker at our Christian Education National (CEN) State Conference this July. In a devotion prepared for the CEN community, he speaks of Jesus’ wilderness experience as found in Luke 4. After forty days of fasting, Jesus was emaciated and exhausted. He had been led into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan to abandon His Father, who had ‘let Him down’. Jesus’ wilderness experience may have seemed as if God were abandoning Him, but His response was to cling to His Father’s promises: ‘For it is written…’ (vv10,11). And then, in this season we remember the crucifixion! ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’ (Matthew 27:46) It was for us so we could have relationship with Him. We must trust God through the extremes of life and remember to pray as Jesus taught: ‘Give us this day our daily bread…’ (Matthew 6:11). God will provide what we need whether these needs are emotional, spiritual or physical.

None of us has ever lived through times like these and the enemy wants us to be discouraged, overwhelmed and depressed. God says He will never leave us and we need to trust Him to turn all things to good for those who love Him. In the Gospels, Jesus often said ‘Fear not!’ to those He ministered to. None of us has ever suffered as Jesus did on that terrible cross.

Ineke Laning – Acting Principal