The selection of this year's theme as Plugging in to God's power was not coincidental. It was chosen carefully to align with some of what our Christian support organizations are focussing on. This past week, Mr. Kamphuis, Mrs. Desjardins and myself had the privilege of joining 60 other Christian School Administrators at a conference entitled "Power to Empower". It was a rich time of sharing, building up, encouraging, and digging deep into God's word and the words of Christian writers on the topic of power.
We all have and use power - parents, teachers, even students exercise power in their day-to-day interactions. Andy Crouch (author of "Playing God: Redeeming the Gift of Power") identifies that each of us in our use of power will either reflect or distort the image we bear of our Creator. From Christianity Today Magazine: "[A new conversation about power] would acknowledge, indeed insist, that power is a gift—the gift of a Giver who is the supreme model of power used to bless and serve. Power is not given to benefit those who hold it. It is given for the flourishing of individuals, peoples, and the cosmos itself. Power's right use is especially important for the flourishing of the vulnerable, the members of the human family who most need others to use power well to survive and thrive: the young, the aged, the sick, and the dispossessed."
As we exercise the power each of us has been granted in our particular position in society, are we using our power and influence to help others (especially the weak and vulnerable) flourish? In other words, is our power being used to empower? Power is not for personal gain. Pray that our students may learn to rightly use their power to empower through our teaching, and through the models they see around them each day.
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