“Then Job answered.” Job 12:1
Take a Moment to Ponder
It is back to school time, for those of us who have been students before, and a whole new adventure for those who will be donning uniforms and attending classes for the first time. Brimming with excitement and anticipation, we step out in pursuit of wisdom, skills and the joy of new relationships, and friendships. Our goal is to do well. However, we will not accomplish it without clear objectives, faithfulness to the tasks and the support of our families and communities, including our church families.
The story of Job provides many lessons for the church family including:
We cannot earn God’s love and grace
We must walk by faith, and ultimately,
We must hold on to God despite the events of life.
We tell our children to pray often, work hard and trust God, but we do not always connect these to life’s realities, and remind them that God is our God in the good and bad times, supreme in our lives regardless of the events that are shaping us.
Note – we tend to do more of the speaking, and too often, not enough listening.
In today’s lesson, it was finally Job’s turn to speak after listening to his friends’ advice and admonitions.
His friends listened, we the readers listened, and God listened as well.
Job expressed his deep knowledge of God, his disappointments and yes, God would eventually answer him, but it must have been very cathartic for him to say what was on his mind and in his heart.
Our children and young people also need to share as they negotiate what is increasingly a challenging world. We need to listen to their voices and hear their opinions, and ideas even as we desire them to listen to us.
As we listen, let us prepare our learners to meet the days ahead – grounded in faith, strengthened by hope and enfolded in the love that God grants to us all.
Practical Action:
- Add to our prayer list all stakeholders in the field of education especially; students, teachers, parents, principals, administrative and ancillary staff, school boards, the Minister and Ministry of Education and the parliamentary opposition spokesperson on education, our Diocesan Director of Schools Mrs. Ena Barclay and all others who hold the interest of learners at heart.
- Spend some time listening to young people and encouraging them to share their interests, ideas, hurts, and hopes within a safe, non-judgmental space.
- Seek out and encourage adult learners
Prayer for Education:
Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom. Enlighten by your Holy Spirit those who teach and those who learn, that, rejoicing in the knowledge of your truth, and attaining the maturity you will for all persons, they may worship you and serve you from generation to generation; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Contributed by Rev. Natalie Blake
