Terry Fox - Compassion Sept. 24, 2012

Compassion – Terry Fox

This week our students will be running on Terry Fox day.  Each year our school participates in this event but this year our Grade 8 class will focus on Terry Fox and the theme of compassion.  I came across this quote, “Fox is not only an embodiment and example of Christian love but also someone who makes such love available to the community.”  As we focus on compassion this month we can see how Terry Fox is a humble example of making Christian love available to the community.  Last week I discussed the meaning of compassion and Christ’s actions surrounding compassion.  The quote above does a wonderful job, once again, of explaining how we can live out compassion in our communities.  I believe we are called to be an embodiment and example of Christian love and also make such love available to our neighbours both near and far.  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,  who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Cor. 1:3-4 Blessings on your journey this week as you exhibit Christian love and compassion ~Mr. Bouwers

Clothed in Compassion September 17th, 2012

Clothed in Compassion

The first garment of clothing that we will focus on this school year is the garment of compassion. Compassion is readily equated to feeling pity for another but there is so much more. Compassion stirs in us a deep distress for the suffering and brokenness we see around us. It is usually accompanied by a desire to restore or alleviate that suffering and brokenness. If we use the examples from the gospels of Matthew and Mark, Christ takes it one step further. At least three times it is mentioned that Jesus encountered the suffering that accompanies the brokenness in our world and he was moved to have compassion on them. In this reference compassion is a verb, not a noun. Jesus’compassion did not end with the emotions and desires that were stirred within him; it was not a hollow pity. In each of the circumstances he was moved to action; to bring about a measure of restoration in each situation. He saw the crowds and had compassion on them, seeing they were sheep without a shepherd and he taught them (Mark 6). In another instance there had been a crowd that had followed him for days. He saw that they were hungry and had compassion on them and he fed them (Mark 8). Also, as crowds gathered to hear him he was moved to act on his compassion again and he healed them (Matt.14). The blind came and experienced Christ’s compassion and they received their sight (Matt. 20). In each of these situations compassion became something that was carried out rather an unfulfilled feeling. It is important, especially in the school setting, that our students are moved by the suffering of others and that they are able to identify with them, it shows sensitivity to the Spirit. It is also equally important that our students are not just moved to pity others but to actively work at restoring those situations and alleviating the hurt around them. If we are living out compassion then we are agents of reconciliation on the playground, in the hallways, in the classroom and in the communities in which we live. May the Spirit continually convict us to live out compassion in a very tangible way. ~Mr. Bouwers

Covenants or Contracts? September 10, 2012

Covenants versus Contracts.

At the beginning of this school year we have asked our students to review some of the classroom expectations and sign corresponding behaviour agreements.  In many of the classrooms this has led to conversations about what this looks like in action and what would it sound like in the classroom, the hallways and on the playground.  After these participatory conversations the students were given behaviour contracts that outline the expectations in the parent handbook.  I would like to suggest that it is much more than just a lifeless contract that was signed.  We covenant together around our core values and agree how we should treat each other and how we view ourselves.  We have a shared commitment to these values and goals laid out in this document.  It is not a cold and formal agreement but a living document that helps us express compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience with one another.  It aids us in the formation of a caring community that is influenced by love because over all the points on the behaviour contract we are called to put on love.  It is the crux behind it all; the central and unifying element.  We look to strengthen our school community by rallying around our core values and focus on living out Christ’s love in our learning community.  Through a Christ-centric education we pray our students will don the clothes of Christ as stated in Colossians 3:12-14 and be prepared for a life of leadership and contribution in God’s kingdom.  ~Mr. Bouwers

Welcome Back September 4th, 2012

What a scene this morning as all the students were lining up to come into the school.  .  It was so good to see their smiling faces and the students connecting with “long lost” friends.  A lot of them were wearing special first day of school attire.  Parents and students are quite intentional about the clothes they wear.  During the opening assembly I also showed some pictures of individuals in different fields of work.  The students were able to identify construction workers, health care professionals, soldiers, and business people.  When asked how they were able to identify them so easily they mentioned it was the clothes they were wearing.  How true that is.  What we wear is very visible to others.  This year our theme will be focussed on the “Clothes of Christ”.  In Colossians 3 Paul urges God’s people to clothe themselves in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Each of these, bound in perfect unity by exhibiting love to others.  These characteristics should be very visible, identifiable and recognizable to others.  Please pray for the Holy Spirit to work in the hearts of our students and our community so that we can dress for success. ~Mr. Bouwers