One of the fun things about this time of year is seeing the first day of school pictures that are being taken in our neighborhood as I walk my dog. The children are gathered on the front step or in the driveway of the home, sometimes with the family dog, and mom or dad has the cell phone in hand capturing a few pictures of the “first day” that will likely end up on Facebook.
The younger children are usually full of energy with big smiles on their faces and the older youth may not have quite the big smile, but there’s usually some energy in their eyes revealing their eagerness to get back to school to be with friends, etc. A part of the excitement of the morning, I hope, is the anticipation of what the children and youth will learn, the new experiences they’ll engage in, and the ways they’ll grow. I’m sure those thoughts aren’t in their mind, but that’s always an aspect of new beginnings…and the first day of school is certainly a new beginning.
As I watch the children head off to school, it also makes me wonder, in what ways am I seeking to learn and grow in the coming year? My belief is there is always something new to learn and ways to grow, so we as human beings should always be stretching, learning, and growing in life and also in our faith.
For those of us who are Jesus followers, we realize Jesus was constantly stretching people to think in new ways. In fact, Jesus tended to challenge the people of his day who seemed to act like they had all the answers. After all, Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) and his Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6) are teachings in which Jesus is saying some pretty bold things and turning people’s world or understanding upside-down.
One of the phrases Jesus speaks in Matthew, Mark, and Luke in the New Testament of the Bible, is “To the one who has ears, let them hear.” In a sense it is Jesus’ way of challenging people to think in a new way, to gain some new life and faith truths, to hear something new that God might be saying to them. Those words about one’s ears just might also be a way of Jesus gently, or not so gently, asking the question, “Is your mind and heart open to the whispers or the voice of God?”
As the children, youth, and even some adults from our community go back to the classroom to learn and grow, may we each reflect for ourselves on learning and growth in our lives. After all, I believe Jesus is still speaking the words, even to us today, “Let the one who has ears, let them hear.” In this upcoming school year may we pick up the Bible, may we connect with a church family, participate in a small group, or find an online class to take (this is the one I’m putting extra energy into, all to keep on learning and growing… and allowing God to speak into our lives.
I suppose every day we could take a selfie and post it on social media, proclaiming it the first day of school because every day is an opportunity to learn. As Jesus followers, there is always something new to learn or a new way to grow as we seek to live into God’s Kingdom here on earth. To the one who has ears, let them hear!
Pastor Keith