From the Human Resources Manager

My wife and I took our two young boys to Sydney in the recent holidays. Our boys are four years old and eighteen months old, and this was their first time interstate and on a plane. It was so exciting for them!

We had a wonderful trip, visiting family and doing all the normal tourist activities to keep them entertained - visiting the aquarium, Darling Harbour, Taronga Zoo, riding on a ferry to Manly. We kept up quite a pace!

Having not travelled with young kids before, we discovered that there’s a lot to think about! 

How do you keep two young, active kids calm and still for two hours on a flight, without annoying other passengers? 

How do you navigate Sydney with a pram in tow? 

How can you fit a nap in for the kids (and the parents!) when they’ve reached their limits? 

How many changes of clothes can you fit in a small backpack? 

How do you keep them entertained without visiting every playground in Sydney? 

How quickly can you find a public toilet at short notice?

I’d love to say we found answers to those questions, however we’re probably still none-the-wiser when it comes to some of those things! 

I recall, at one point in the trip, when seeing the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge for the first time, my four-year-old stopped, soaked in the moment and said, “Wow! Sydney is amazing!”. 

While such a simple comment, it was quite profound to me. I hadn’t really taken the time to simply stop and enjoy the trip! 

As parents, we were getting so caught up in the details of the holiday - the practicalities, the complications, and the challenges - yet ultimately, it wasn’t all about those things. 

It was about providing an opportunity for our boys to visit somewhere new and different. It was actually about allowing them to stop and say, “Wow! Sydney is amazing!”. We wanted them to enjoy the moment. 

It’s made me think recently about Jesus with Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42. In this story, Jesus is visiting Martha, who welcomed him into her home. Mary, her sister, is simply sitting at Jesus’ feet, listening to what he is teaching, to the frustration of Martha. Martha is spending all of her time distracted by the big meal that she is preparing, and she is annoyed at Mary's lack of support. 

However, Jesus stops to tell Martha, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42 NLT).

Martha needed to be reminded to stop worrying about the practicalities and things that needed to be done, but rather to simply stop and spend that time with Jesus. He didn’t say that they didn’t need a meal, or that those things weren’t important - rather he was talking about where she was placing her focus. 

She was instructed not to get worried or upset over the details. It provides an amazing perspective to Martha. Mary’s choice has eternal implications, however Martha is focused on the temporary.

This is a constant challenge for each of us. 

As the Human Resources Manager at Emmaus Christian College, I know first hand that we are blessed with so many amazing staff. We have a diverse team, with different experiences, and different areas of expertise. 

Like everyone, at times we have a tendency to get caught up in the detail of our roles, and the practical things that need to be done. 

However, we each have our firm foundation in Jesus. We know that we need to keep him at the centre in everything, and to keep ourselves in check to ensure that we aren’t spending all of our time worrying and getting upset over tasks. However, this is an ongoing process and journey for each of us.

Ultimately we are simply here to love Jesus, and to play our part in providing an education where Christ is at the centre and where young people thrive.

As you go about your week, make sure you take the time to stop and consider your ‘big picture’. Are you getting caught up in the practical elements of your world and all of the things you need to get done? 

Choose to spend time this week remembering that there is a God who loves you, wants to know you, and desires to spend time with you. It’s these things that have eternal value!

Don’t be like me, focused on all of the complexities around a family holiday. Rather, take time to stop, look around, and appreciate the bigger picture. 

“Wow! Sydney is amazing!” - how refreshing from a four-year-old, and a good reminder for us all. 

Matt Purdy

Human Resources Manager