Editorial

Serving up our ‘best selves’.

Picture this scene: It’s Saturday Night and you have been invited to your friend’s home (you can determine the nature of the friendship - but this is someone close to you, someone you care about and who cares for you). They asked you to set this date aside in your diary weeks ago and you’ve been looking forward to it. Your friend has been studying at The Culinary Academy and you are excited to taste some of their ‘work’. You arrive at their home and are invited in. After some general chit-chat and catch up, you sit down to dinner. Your friend places a plate in front of you and you look down at the ‘meal’ before you, a little taken aback, you look to your friend. 

“Oh sorry” they say, “I didn’t have time to make anything, I hope you don’t mind eating my leftover Domino’s Pizza from Thursday night?”

I don’t know about you, but as much as I love my friend, and place higher importance in their company than in the meal they cook, I think that I would walk away from this situation feeling a little ‘cheated’ or ‘ripped off’. 

Now, what if you were the one with the culinary skills?…. and it was God who was coming to dinner?… would you serve Him your leftovers? 

As we navigate through the journey of education and life, it is essential to remember the importance of giving our 'best selves' in all that we do. This concept, deeply rooted in our Christian values, encourages us to strive for excellence, not just in academics, but in every aspect of our lives. 

As Paul writes to the church in Colossae, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward" (Colossians 3:23-24).

There are some foundational truths that we need to understand before we can move forward in articulating what our ‘best selves’ might look like. 

1. There is no one-size-fits-all definition. Instead, the description is entirely personal. Your ‘best self’ will never be the same as someone else’s - so resist the temptation to compare. Instead, remember that God has created each one of us unique. We all have different talents, skills, challenges, and journeys. (Our culinary skills, nor the meal we serve, will ever be exactly the same). 
2. Our ‘best self’ doesn’t need to be fixed in stone. Instead, it will almost certainly change over time as we learn more. As you achieve goals, experience failure, check through your bucket list, and tune into God’s amazing plan for your life, you’ll uncover more and more about who you really are. As a result your ‘best self’ definition will expand. 
3. Our ‘best self’ is a state of being… not a destination. Being your ‘best self’ requires commitment. However, when we fail or struggle the good news is that these moments, with God’s help, can shape our ‘best self’ to be ‘better’. 

In the realm of academics, giving of our ‘best selves’ translates into a commitment to excellence in learning. It means being diligent, curious and persistent. 

It involves embracing challenges, persevering through difficulties, and celebrating growth. When giving of our ‘best selves’, we are not merely striving for high grades (which may not be a challenge for some, or an unattainable goal for others). Rather, we are fostering a love for learning and a desire to continually grow and improve; something that is attainable for all. 

Outside of the classroom, giving of our ‘best selves’ means acting with integrity, kindness and respect. It involves living out the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5) as we seek to emulate the character of Christ Jesus. It involves contributing positively to our community, showing empathy towards others, having compassion for our ‘neighbour’ and standing up for what is right. 

As Parents, we play a crucial role in this journey. By modelling these values at home, we reinforce the importance of giving one’s ‘best self’. Your support, encouragement, and guidance are invaluable in helping your children understand and embody these principles. 

As we look forward to the rest of the school year, let us commit to give our 'best selves' in all that we do. Let us strive for excellence in learning, act with integrity in our actions, and treat each other with kindness and respect. Let us ‘work at it with all our heart’. In doing so, we are not only upholding our Christian values but also preparing ourselves to make a positive impact in the world. 

God has given you all the key ingredients and He is looking forward to sharing and marvelling in the ‘best self’ you showcase to the world. Don’t serve God your leftovers.