The beginning of winter can be hard. It's darker, colder, and the shiny start to a new year has worn off. Trees look bare, the skies grey. Christmas is not here yet, and the stress of the season is building. It's well known among mental health professionals that November is a difficult month for many.
This isn't the case for everyone, of course. Some of us long for the change in season, the rhythm of the year to continue, the excitement of celebrations around our Saviour's birth. That can and sometimes does make the contrast even more difficult.
Over the past month, I've asked specific groups of people (leadership, staff, students) the following question: "If you could describe NACE to someone who doesn't know about us, what three words or phrases would you use?" It's obvious we are a school, but beyond that, what sets us as unique or different? The responses, of course, were great to read through and among what anyone would expect, there were some surprising elements as well.
The most frequently mentioned word? Community. Many of the students, staff, parents at NACE feel like they belong. What an incredible identification of a body of Christ! Yet, whenever we talk about community and belongingness, there are always those who don't or those who struggle to connect or have too much going on that they feel they can't. Still others have difficulty with the season and their own mental health
As a community, especially a community with Christ at the centre, compassion needs to play a central role in our identity. How do we exercise hospitality to everyone in our midst? Sometimes it's just being aware that others may feel on the outskirts. At other times, it means that we go out of our way to connect with people who we haven't met yet. Including everyone means that we will make space for others. A feeling of belonging happens when we miss someone if they aren't there. Who is missing? Who is struggling? It's November. Go out of your way in the next few weeks to make sure we live up to our descriptors!
We are a community, Connected in Christ.
