Learning to count again

"Count your many blessings; name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done." – Jonathan Oatman Jr. (1897)

One of my elementary school teachers used to have us sing this song each week as she accompanied us on the giant dilapidated piano I can still picture. She never failed to play it with enthusiasm and energy. I think we were actually more captivated with the rhythm than with the words, since it encouraged us to mimic a boisterous singing marching group. I’m pretty sure being thankful and taking stock wasn’t on our minds.

Nevertheless, worn in by childhood memories, this song comes back to me often as I work. As I read through and sign report cards, observe year-end activities, take in an avalanche of pictures, and anticipate a graduation on the horizon I can’t help but make an observation. God is over all, in all, and through all. Naming the blessings “one by one” directs us to take in the fullness of “every spiritual blessing in Christ.” (Ephesians 1) God loves LCES and is at work among us. Praise the Lord!

Counting blessings in this way is not intended to be a “cheer up, it’s not that bad” antidote to the very real and pressing challenges we face. We wouldn’t be authentic if we didn’t acknowledge that the pathway through this year at LCES has included some dark clouds. Financial hardship, disappointment, grief, conflict, and uncertainty have been part of our individual and collective pathway.

We are consoled and encouraged that God is much larger than any of these. Even though we are
“burdened by a load of care” as the song states later, we are wise to follow David and say “I will yet praise him, my Saviour and my God.” (Psalm 42:5) Let’s not forget, He who promised is able.

When the celebrating and thanksgiving of this week ends, may the Lord bless our LCES families, students, and staff with a time of refreshing change and rest. We can’t wait to see everyone again in September to see what God has in store for us at LCES!

Grace and peace,  SJ

Tomorrow's Most Wanted

There was panic. I remember people were lined up at the gas station rushing to fill their tanks before midnight. “Y2K” was believed to bring about major complications for anything guided or monitored by a computer as the year clicked over to 2000. Fear about anticipating the future was stirred to fever pitch by some media outlets. The end result? Nothing newsworthy happened.

In a conversation last week following the visit of the new JK/SK students arriving this fall, I used the phrase “LCES class of 2025.” I have to admit, it felt a little like something out of science fiction, since that it is a quarter century after the supposed crisis of the end of 1999. What will the world of our grade eight graduates be like at that point? I’m sure we can’t entirely understand and I’m thankful that our incoming students will have the opportunity of nine or ten years of faith-nurturing, perspective-shaping, and habit-forming Christian education before then. It is an investment well worth making that will prepare them for what lies over the horizon, a future already known by God.

Our graduates will someday look for work to fulfill their God-given purpose. What will tomorrow’s job recruiter be looking for? A 2013 study of 500 top leaders who collectively employ millions was entitled “Tomorrow’s Most Wanted.” This poll revealed that personality, not competence, is the most highly valued trait. A desire for employees who can collaborate, adapt quickly, are personable, and
have the drive to get the job done have an enormous advantage. In other words, evidence of initial
task-specific competency was far less important compared to the substance of the person’s character.

These are important cues to us as we consider the changing nature and methods of Christian education in the present world. I’m confident that we are preparing our students well for their unique
future when we challenge them to know themselves intimately as leaders, learners, and children of
God. May God bless our current graduates as they seek to be a faithful presence in the unique and
important place where God will plant them. SJ

Making Lists and Giving Thanks

“Being thankful is a mindset as much as it as an action item” is a phrase I remember from a wise
person in my life. Our weekly chapel earlier this morning challenged staff and students to create a
list for things that we are thankful for. Much like a “bucket list,” the action of actually writing down
what we are thankful urges more reflective consideration and perhaps greater realization of the
bounty of God’s favour experienced every day. Seeing a physical list helps our heart to see God’s
blessing and provision. An attitude of thankfulness ensures we place the focus on God, his faithful-
ness, and his plan for us.

Here is the list of things JK students are thankful for:

 • My hands so we can pick up things.
 • My heart so we can love.
 • Our body because it holds up.
 • Shoes so we can walk outside if we want to.
 • Mom and Dad because they love me and know God
 • Feet so we can walk to the bus stop
 • A coat because it keeps us warm.

From my vantage point, here is my list of what I am thankful for about LCES this morning:

• for rain falling today that is nourishing our dozen new trees and keeping our grounds so green
• for an answer that a student gave me this morning that showed growth and wisdom
• for parent leaders on the board and committees committing to guiding LCES next year
• for the chance to be working with students loved by God to help them grow
• for answers to prayer for wisdom and consensus on challenging matters
• for safe travel for many class trips that have and will soon take students on the road
• for growth and learning of our grade eight students who are soon ready to graduate
• for a healthy lunch and all the clean water I care to drink

• for new JK and SK students entering our building for orientation this week (Class of 2023/24!)

Taking the time to write out this list was helpful for me this morning. What are you thankful for? SJ

Growing Trees and Nurturing Schools

“I can’t wait to come back in 50 years and see how big they are!”

 

I overheard those words of expectation from a young student here at LCES after seeing the result of holes dug and many trees planted last week in various areas of our property. What vision, I thought, to look that far in the future and measure the success of something with a long view to the eventual outcome; mature trees flourishing where they were planted. 

We look forward to watching these trees grow and flourish in the coming years, much the same way that we as staff delight in watching our students grow in faith and wisdom during their years here. It is a joy to have many of our graduates from years long ago come back to enroll their children, complete practice teaching, co-op placements, lend a helping hand, or just for a visit. Like the trees just planted last week, our graduates move on from their humble “seedling” beginnings and become mature in their own way. 

LCES was once “planted” here as a seedling too, small and full of potential to grow as result of God’s blessing and provision to become a tree that now has 53 “annual growth rings” as tree experts describe. Certainly some of them indicate lean and hard times, others times of surging growth and prosperity. The tree has survived and matured to be what it is today; LCES is a vibrant, contemporary place of learning and faith. 

I’m thankful that there were visionary planters here on Clarke Rd many years ago with a shovel in the ground, a dream, and hopes of a flourishing school 53 years down the road. God has been faithful. I’m also grateful for many at present who are working to consider our maturing tree and its future. Reviewing our student program, finances, strategy, debt, and more are the tasks of today. 

May God bless the gardeners at LCES. SJ 

We are very grateful for the TD “Friends of the Environment” grant which allowed for the purchase of these trees and for the Ebert and Van Maar families for organizing and planting, as well as the grade seven class for helping to get the trees in the ground and spread mulch.