Showing up and doing your best 

On Monday morning, I was on duty at the front of the school meeting students as they came in on the first day of Term 3.  I asked one of the students, “Are you ready for school?” “No,” came the quick answer.  I thought this was a very honest answer and commended him for his honesty.  Coming back to anything demanding after a break is a challenge and for students and staff coming back to school can be a shock to the system following a relaxed schedule of almost all activities.  It can be tough for parents as well, getting back to the school run.  However, once back, everything has gone well for the first few days of the term. 

Thinking through about readiness, how many of us would give an honest answer about how prepared we are for all the tasks ahead of us? Readiness is a word that holds weight in every area of life, but nowhere does it feel quite as pressing as in the transition from holiday freedom back to the rhythm and routine of a new school term.  What does readiness look and feels like when you’re not prepared and what does it truly mean to be “ready.” 

Feeling unprepared is normal. Readiness is rarely a state we achieve all at once. It often grows slowly, as we take small steps back into routine and responsibility. There is a lot of wisdom in the student’s response about not being ready to be back at school because accepting and acknowledging lack of readiness is a step towards readiness.  It is accepting that one may not be able to do everything at once and showing up to school on time is a great start to building a sense of accomplishment.  The student, though dressed well in uniform accepted imperfection that can only be made better by getting a little more ready each day.  I have since checked in with him and he may not remember what he said but he has settled well back into his studies as have all the other students. 

We are truly thankful for a restful break and a good return to normal school life as we trust in God’s provision for the term and the rest of the school year. We can trust that God will provide what we need each step of the way.  How willing are you to respond even when you feel inadequate? 

Show up, do your best, and let grace cover the rest.