Principal's Ponderings

Jesus is in our today

"Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

Have you ever noticed how often we look for God in the extraordinary? Recently, it dawned on me that we often expect to encounter God during a powerful church service, on a retreat, while standing on a mountain overlooking His creation or in one of those unforgettable moments that stay with us for years. Those moments are gifts, and I thank God for them. But I've been wondering lately whether we sometimes overlook where He is quietly at work every other day of the week (in other words, each day! Every day!).Perhaps God is just as present in the ordinary.

At school I have the privilege of observing and watching, I see the incidental conversations that happen each morning. When students and friends greet one another with excitement after a weekend apart. When staff arrive, greeting each other in the staffroom for morning devotions. And then when staff connect with students first thing in the morning as they enter the class. These moments may seem routine, yet they are often filled with kindness, hope and the simple reminder that every person matters. In those moments, I see God is there.

In the family home, I think of families gathered around the dinner table at the end of a busy day. Sharing stories, laughing together, listening to one another or praying before a meal. In a world that often feels hurried and distracted, these ordinary moments become sacred opportunities to nurture relationships and point one another towards Christ. In these moments, God is there too.

Perhaps you've experienced Him during a quiet walk before the day begins. In the beauty of creation. I especially love the fresh spring air and as the birds come back out after winter. In the stillness of an early morning with an open Bible and a cup of tea, coffee or juice. Or in a conversation with a friend that unexpectedly brings comfort and wisdom just when you needed it. 

The Psalmist reminds us, "Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10. These words are not simply an invitation to stop moving. They are an invitation to become aware of the God who has been with us all along.

I wonder if one of the greatest challenges of our generation is not that Jesus has become less present, but that our lives have become so full that we sometimes struggle to notice Him.

As a Christian school, we have the wonderful privilege of helping our students recognise that faith is not something reserved for Sunday or special occasions. Following Jesus is woven into everyday life. It is choosing kindness. It is showing patience in the classroom. It is thanking God for His creation during a walk. It is praying with a friend, serving without recognition and seeing each person as someone deeply loved by God. These are not interruptions to our faith. They are our faith being lived out.

Perhaps this week we don't need to search for extraordinary moments quite so hard. Perhaps we simply need to slow down enough to recognise that God is already meeting us in the ordinary rhythms of life.

As we journey together as the Devonport Christian School community, may our eyes become more attentive to His presence. May we discover Him in the conversations we have, the meals we share, the students we encourage, the prayers we whisper and the relationships we cherish. Because when we begin looking for God in the ordinary, we often discover that the ordinary was holy all along. And perhaps that is one of His most beautiful gifts, that the everyday moments we sometimes overlook are often the very places where His grace quietly meets us.

Shalom,

Chad