Back to School

Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. (Matthew 7:1-5 ESV).

Well, it has happened too quickly for some and not nearly quickly enough for others, but school has begun. I love all the social media showing the first day of school for their children. Of particular interest is the “then and now” pictures. One mom posted a picture of her son when he was in first grade and now as a senior in high school. Even though they were taken in the same place, the differences were amazing to see. Our oldest grandchildren are sophomores at Aledo High School this year. We don’t have any pictures of the “then and now,” though we have been present with them from the beginning of their educational years. As we spent a little time with them the evening before their first day, the topic did drift into how much they were looking forward to the new year. Their answer was predictable, as each echoed the same sentiment of disdain. I wish that I had been a bit more prepared for a better answer than I gave. My encouragement was more along the lines of “the sooner you begin the sooner you end.” And, believe me, that was not received well at all! After a bit of thought I came to our reading today with a thought of how we can use the beginning of the year as a time to really “see.” I think it is an incredible time to see their fellow students and teachers in this common setting and make the adjustments to practice a non-judgmental relationship with everyone they meet. I think it can be a time to be very intentional to recognize Jesus as he shows up in school. It should be a time to see good in all the folks around us. We are presented an opportunity to focus on the beauty of diversity that we are a part of in the experience. We may also take the time to see the needs of the world around us and tallow that to provoke the missional imagination God has given us. Perhaps best of all, we may get a clearer picture of the future and what it might hold for us. At the beginning of the year, I encourage each of us to recommit ourselves to think about being seen. Not in the showy, attention-getting way that we first think about when we use the words “being seen;” but the gracious humble way of Christ. Certainly we can all do with a little more of that kind of attitude.