Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
It’s funny how there are certain rhythms to life. The work week tends to look roughly the same for us, while weekends look different. In a given month, there are bills to pay, chores to do, and general benchmarks to indicate where we are in that 30-day period. But perhaps the largest rhythm is also the longest, with the ups and downs that unfold over the course of a year. And we’re about to embark upon a major shift in that rhythm, going from the days of summer and into the start of the school year.
The start of the school year is an exciting time of new possibilities. The prospect of moving up a grade, of gaining new classmates, or moving from one school to another are all things students of various ages face. On the part of educators, they may be returning to the same classroom and have the same curriculum, but there are new students to engage with, variations to the curriculum, and potentially new coworkers are all things that may await them as they head back. There’s so much new to be found, and with it, both the excitement and the occasional nervousness that comes with stepping out into something unfamiliar.
But as the years continue to roll along, I’ve found that there are those familiar things that follow us as well. At a very basic level, and I’m not sure if it’s due to the paint used, cleaning products employed, or the various things of books, crayons, and paper, but there’s a consistent smell of ‘school’ that wafts down the hallways and in the classrooms that is immediately recognizable. Likewise, there are those friendships and relationships that develop and deepen as one goes through their educational journey. And while not everyone is a fan of getting up and going to school, the stability of the schedule gives us something to settle into as September hits.
And so, as we gear up for another academic year, whether as a student, a parent, or an educator, the rhythm we find in it, is an opportunity for us to try and flourish. For anyone who is looking forward to something new and a change of pace from years past, I hope that you find it and embrace the good within that. For anyone who is looking to get back to a more solid routine and reconnecting with the familiar, I hope that settle back in nicely and enjoy all it offers. My ultimate hope and prayer for all is this: that in whatever academic environment we might find ourselves, that the grace of the Good Teacher, Jesus Christ, might bring much success, total safety, and deep learning to all.
Peace and Goodness,
Fr. Dan
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