I am continuing to reflect on change. I just spent two days away on retreat with our management team. As always, the content was stimulating and challenging and my colleagues, smart and thoughtful. Our Head, Bob, had this quote on the screen this morning and I loved it. It reinforces for me the variation in responses to change. As a school, we seek to be current, to envision an exciting and relevant future and to keep all the things we love about our community. Education is changing radically - and so is the world. It's enough to cause your head to spin.
As I participated in this two day retreat, I was conscious that it was my last one...that my own changes are coming soon. I noticed a touch of melancholy about that and the odd "what have you done!!" thought to myself. And yet, nothing stays still for too long. I am also conscious of the ongoing changes to my body as I continue to recover from this last year's adventure - I just don't have the energy I normally have had (my colleagues sent me home today saying I was too tired to continue back to the school to work!).
As I think of the 'winds of change' I am reminded of a song we sing on special occasions and sometimes in Chapel at SMUS. In fact, it was one of Becca's favourite songs when she was at the school. It's called, "I Feel the Winds of God Today"....Written in 1906 by Ralph Vaughn Williams.
1 I feel the winds of God today;
today my sail I lift,
though heavy oft with drenching spray
and torn with many a rift;
if hope but light the water’s crest,
and Christ my bark will use,
I’ll seek the seas at his behest,
and brave another cruise.
2 It is the wind of God that dries
my vain regretful tears,
until with braver thoughts shall rise
the purer, brighter years;
if cast on shores of selfish ease
or pleasure I should be,
O let me feel your freshening breeze,
and I’ll put back to sea.
3 If ever I forget your love
and how that love was shown,
lift high the blood-red flag above;
it bears your name alone.
Great pilot of my onward way,
you wilt not let me drift;
I feel the winds of God today;
today my sail I lift.
I love two things about this. First, even in an age of change, in a forward looking school with incredible vision, we know that a song that's over 100 years old still speaks to us. So we don't throw it out - we use it to share and build community. Second, I like that the winds of change are associated with God - that there are no changes we cannot bear, while He walks beside us. That can look like different things for different people, and the assurance of that gives me great comfort.
As the winds of change blow in our lives - will we put up a wall or lift a sail?
As I participated in this two day retreat, I was conscious that it was my last one...that my own changes are coming soon. I noticed a touch of melancholy about that and the odd "what have you done!!" thought to myself. And yet, nothing stays still for too long. I am also conscious of the ongoing changes to my body as I continue to recover from this last year's adventure - I just don't have the energy I normally have had (my colleagues sent me home today saying I was too tired to continue back to the school to work!).
As I think of the 'winds of change' I am reminded of a song we sing on special occasions and sometimes in Chapel at SMUS. In fact, it was one of Becca's favourite songs when she was at the school. It's called, "I Feel the Winds of God Today"....Written in 1906 by Ralph Vaughn Williams.
1 I feel the winds of God today;
today my sail I lift,
though heavy oft with drenching spray
and torn with many a rift;
if hope but light the water’s crest,
and Christ my bark will use,
I’ll seek the seas at his behest,
and brave another cruise.
2 It is the wind of God that dries
my vain regretful tears,
until with braver thoughts shall rise
the purer, brighter years;
if cast on shores of selfish ease
or pleasure I should be,
O let me feel your freshening breeze,
and I’ll put back to sea.
3 If ever I forget your love
and how that love was shown,
lift high the blood-red flag above;
it bears your name alone.
Great pilot of my onward way,
you wilt not let me drift;
I feel the winds of God today;
today my sail I lift.
I love two things about this. First, even in an age of change, in a forward looking school with incredible vision, we know that a song that's over 100 years old still speaks to us. So we don't throw it out - we use it to share and build community. Second, I like that the winds of change are associated with God - that there are no changes we cannot bear, while He walks beside us. That can look like different things for different people, and the assurance of that gives me great comfort.
As the winds of change blow in our lives - will we put up a wall or lift a sail?