Everyday Courage: Doing the Impossible

“I wish every Friday could be field day.” Now that is a positive review!

These were the words of one of younger students participating in Field Day last Friday. The Lord blessed us with a perfect day in terms of weather, a positive community atmosphere, and a safe stu
dent experience as our students used their athletic gifts and talents in a competitive scene. Parents, grandparents, and other friends and family turned out in large numbers to cheer on LCES students. What fun!

A parent shared with me the joy of seeing their child be a part of an experience where students were being encouraged for their efforts by their teachers and classmates for giving their best, regardless of the outcome. “There aren’t enough places where that happens in life” said the parent. “It shapes a person. Encouragement brings life to your soul and makes you do things you didn’t know you could.”

Profound thoughts as we cleaned up the school and grounds at the close of a day. I’ll admit that I wasn’t considering such things at the moment, but it did leave me thinking: How can you describe the
value of encouragement?

In my long-distance travels I recall seeing an enormous billboard near an interstate attempting to challenge the hurried travellers with the following: “Encouragement is to raise confidence to the point where one dares to do what is difficult.” Life’s journey can become very hard. Indeed, “we are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).

Please join me in praying that our staff and students will be encouraged in their need to do what is sometimes difficult – living as faith-filled people in a world that sometimes snuffs out hope. And remember “…there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ our Lord.”(Romans 8:39)

SJ