Time flies! At the start of each summer, it feels as if we have tons of time before the new year begins. Then we blink, and the starting line is right around the corner.
There is no shortage of things we must do to prepare for the new school year. There are new families to be welcomed, lesson plans to be drafted, schedules to be finalized, and worship services to be planned. Oh, and don’t forget the flurry of last minute questions popping up that we hadn’t even considered. Plus, summer is the time for repairs and renovations to the physical plant. Why is that two week project now taking two months?! The clock is running and it seems as if every time we cross one thing off the list, several new things get tacked onto the bottom. A couple of months ago, it felt as if we had all the time in the world. Now, every second is precious.
All of this can lead to stress, frustration, and irritation. Those emotions are the exact opposite of the energy needed to put our best foot forward and set a positive tone for the new year.
I wonder if there is a better way?
At our chaplains retreat this summer, participants had the opportunity to reflect on cultivating gratefulness both personally and in our communities. Kristi Nelson, author of Wake Up Grateful: The Transformative Practice of Taking Nothing For Granted, shared her personal journey as well as some very practical strategies for leading communities of gratefulness. I want to share one with you now.
Look at that long list of tasks to complete before students arrive. Then, rather than saying that you “have” to do those things, say that you “get” to do those things. I get to update my lesson plans for my students. I get to plan activities and events that welcome new families into our community. I get to rethink how we approach worship services. That simple shift in mindset adds a spirit of gratefulness to the work that we do.
As Kristi describes it:
It’s a totally different frame around the things we do in our lives, a way to shift obligations to opportunities, responsibilities to privileges. When we see what we have to do in life as a privilege rather than an obligation, it opens up a new energy with which to approach the moments and tasks of our lives. This practice also helps us model gratefulness for others, and can help us approach our circumstances more graciously and generously.
No one would say that our work is easy. We are reminded of that on a daily basis! Despite the challenges we face, it is a privilege to participate in the life-changing work of Episcopal schools. We create safe and encouraging communities where young people can grow in wisdom and grace. We create spaces where students can reach their full potential and reflect upon how God is calling them to use those gifts and talents for the benefit of others. And, you and I are fortunate enough to have a role in this wonderful work. As we begin a new year, my hope and prayer is that we will embrace our opportunities with gladness, with grace, and with generosity.