Unity in Diversity

Last week, I asked for prayers for our upcoming week of committee meetings as they began their work for the year.  Along with the beginning of many different tasks ahead of us, I was also able to take part in the annual NACE/SCH golf tournament. If I'm left after this week with any lasting impression of NACE and its supporters (spiritual, practical, moral, financial, and visionary), it would be that we are indeed a community with many differences as well as a community committed to unity.  

We hail from as far apart as Hamilton and Welland, are country and city, are old and young, are products of Christian education ourselves, or just new to the experience.  And yet, there is a common passion and excitement about what NACE schools do and can mean for our kids.

Are we always in agreement?  No, of course not.  We are diverse, and with diversity will come different ideas and opinions.   I will share later this year my thoughts on healthy conflict, but I will say this:  where there is disagreement, there is discomfort and a longing for unity.  There is also an 'iron sharpening iron' where ideas are able to percolate and good ones are able to rise to the surface.

This diversity is what initially drew me to come to work at NACE.  Different school communities coming together to work together and celebrate what each brings to the table and capitalising on our strengths together.... I believe it provides us with a glimpse of God's coming Kingdom.

Are you a hand?  A foot?  An eye?  

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honourable we treat with special honour. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honour to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.  If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (1 Corinthians 12:21-27)

If we aspire to have our children live in this way, it needs to begin with us - the adults and mentors in their lives to set an example in their school, classrooms, and at home.

This week, Mrs. Dejardins, Mrs. Koornneef and I have the privilege of joining colleagues at the Canada Christian Schools Conference.  Please pray for us as we seek unity and to be challenged by our friends in Christian education across our Nation, and that God will continue to be glorified in our diversity there and here at home.