From the Pastor
2010-2011 School Theme: “Walking with God”
The prophet Isaiah issued an invitation to the people of Judah, saying, “Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways and we shall walk in His paths” (Isaiah 1:3). The theme for the 2010-11 school year is “Walking with God.” In addition to the academic learning, the socially oriented activities, the field trips, and other experiences that make up the school calendar, the faculty will be working on bringing this spiritual theme alive for the students.In considering this theme, we note some of the many places in Scripture that speaks to it. The Lord commanded the Israelites: “You shall observe My judgments and keep My ordinances, to walk in them” (Leviticus 18:4). We learn from the Psalms that “those who walk uprightly” may dwell on the Lord’s holy hill (Psalm 15:1,2). Another Psalm articulates a prayer that all of us could usefully say: “Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth” (Psalm 86:11).
Then there are negative examples: Jesus called the Pharisees hypocrites who were like “blind leaders of the blind,” causing many to “fall into the ditch” (Matthew 15:13). We also know that it is not always easy to live as the Lord teaches. Therefore we hear the Psalmist saying, “You have delivered my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living (Psalm 56:13). Symbolically, we can think of the paralyzed man to whom the Lord said, “Arise, take up your bed and walk” (Mark 2:9).
It is clear from all of this that walking is a symbol for living, and further that our task as human beings on the way to heaven is to learn about and live according to the Lord’s teachings. Our efforts to do just that lead to the experiences of life that we all long for. The Lord says, “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord” (Psalm 119:1). He also says, “No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11). And to the Israelites He specifically enumerated the blessings they would receive for “walking in His statutes and keeping His commandments”, including plentiful crops, peace and safety, healthy and large families, and victory over enemies (Leviticus 26:3-13).
I personally look forward to times that I get to address this theme with the students. I hope the rest of the school community, including parents, teachers, and other supporters of our school will also feel invited to consider what the next steps are that they should be taking, that manifest their desire to walk uprightly based on their best understanding of the pathway that the Lord sets before them.
Warm regards,
