Principal's Ponderings

Living Love in Deed and Truth

Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” - 1 John 3:18

As a Christian school community, it is our hope and prayer that love is not simply something we speak about, but something we live. Love is seen in our words, our actions, our listening, our humility, our willingness to learn, and our desire to honour others as people made in the image of God.

This week, as we mark NAIDOC Week, we have an opportunity to pause, listen, learn, celebrate and reflect. NAIDOC Week is a time across our nation to recognise and celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year’s theme honours five decades of culture, community, leadership, resilience and pride.

On Monday this week, our student representatives joined members of our wider community at the flag raising ceremony. It was a meaningful moment of respect, remembrance and connection. It reminded us that learning does not only happen in classrooms. It also happens when we stand alongside others, listen to stories, honour history, and choose to be present with humility.

This year's NAIDOC Week theme is 50 Years of Deadly. In Aboriginal communities, deadly is a term of high praise. It describes something or someone as excellent, inspiring, strong, and worthy of celebration. More than a compliment, it is a language of resilience and pride that honours the gifts, leadership, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

For me, this week again brings to mind the words of Micah 6:8: “To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

And our verse Colossians 3:12: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

As Christians, we are called to be people who pursue justice, kindness and humility. That means we do not turn away from hard parts of history. We do not pretend there has been no pain. We do not reduce love to kind words alone. Instead, we ask God to shape our hearts so that we might listen well, speak carefully, act justly, and walk gently with others. We clothe ourselves with compassion and humility for things we may need to do differently in the future.

I continue to reflect on my own schooling and the things I was not taught well, or at all, about Aboriginal history, culture and the full story of this land. There is sadness in that reflection. There is also responsibility. As a school, we want our students to grow with truth, compassion and courage. We want them to understand that love of neighbour includes listening to the stories of others, especially when those stories carry grief, strength, injustice, resilience and hope.

At Devonport Christian School we would like, to acknowledge the palawa people who are those appointed by God as the traditional custodians of this land we learn and live on today. We would like to pay our respect to First Nations people both past and present for the way they have stewarded the Lord's good creation, and for those emerging generations, who we pray will continue this task, trusting that our Creator will continue reconciling all things to himself in Jesus Christ.

NAIDOC Week is not simply a moment on the calendar. It is a reminder of the kind of people we are called to be every day. People who listen. People who honour. People who learn. People who repent where needed. People who seek truth. People who love not only “in word or talk”, but “in deed and in truth.”

Our world deeply needs Christians who reflect Jesus with humility and courage. It needs people who do not rush to speak before they have listened. It needs people who stand with others in dignity and respect. It needs communities where children learn that every person has value because every person bears the image of God.

My prayer for Devonport Christian School is that we would continue to grow as a Christ-centred community where love is visible. May our ears be open. May our words be gracious. May our actions be faithful. May our students see in us a genuine desire to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God.

To our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander brothers and sisters, and to all who call this land home, may we continue to walk together with respect, truth, love and hope.

May we listen well.

May we speak with grace.

May we act with courage.

May we honour each person as made in the image of God.

May we love in deed and in truth.

May we walk humbly with Jesus each day.

“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.” - James 5:13

Shalom,

Chad