By The Way: Safe educational programming vital as students return to class
By Rev. Kristy Reimers-Loader on August 20, 2021.
Greetings, friends, from the Ecumenical Campus Ministry at Medicine Hat College. As we experience the last of summer’s heat and fall quickly approaches, we anticipate the return of students to school. Some greet this with eagerness, while others hold lingering concerns over COVID. This is understandable in light of various conflicting truth claims we’ve heard recently. Nevertheless, we can agree that it is vital that young people receive the best educational programming in the safest manner we can provide it, for the sake of their future and that of our community. When we think about the role of education and what it provides, it quickly becomes clear that there’s more to it than simply acquiring knowledge. Schools and colleges are mandated to offer education for knowledge, but families and the community hold an equal responsibility to educate for wisdom. It can be difficult to know how to do this. Scripture tells us God is active in providing wise teaching to the faithful. In the Letter of James (3:17) we read, “the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, and sincere.” As we consider our role and responsibility in education, and for our own growth in wisdom, may we allow these worthy values to guide us. For, as the scripture continues, “a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” May the blessing of peace be with you and all those who seek both knowledge and wisdom today, throughout the coming school year, and always. Amen. Rev. Kristy Reimers-Loader is Chaplain at Medicine Hat Ecumenical Campus Ministry 14-13
