As you will no doubt be aware, the beginning of the new school year looked a little different this year. Ongoing COVID Normal restrictions and requirements caused us all to change gear and direction, flexing our resilience muscles once again. It is wonderful to have students back on campus! I would like to reflect on a moment from the week of 31 January, when John Paul College students were engaged in Continuous Learning.
As part of our care for our students and staff during this time our Chaplain, Mr Peter Schmidhauser, released daily videos. One particular video that stood out for me was Tuesday 1 February. Peter’s message from Isaiah 40:29-31 was simple: Our spiritual batteries run down and we get physically tired. Our physical, mental, and spiritual selves are intrinsically linked and each needs to be in balance to create our sense of wellbeing.
Peter’s message continued: Those who wait on the Lord, shall renew their strength. They will be spiritually recharged, renewed, and refreshed inside.
Peter encouraged us all to think on these things.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:29-31
Fast forward a couple of weeks and our second challenge was upon us, the extreme weather event that has been lashing the South East Queensland in the last week. Like our staff and current families, our thoughts and prayers are with our with those in our future students families who may have been impacted by the recent floods.
Wishing you and your family strength and peace as we navigate these unprecendeted times.
