Dear LCA Community,
Welcome to the 2021-22 school year. It’s another year like no other. Another year where we will need to adjust our routines, habits, and expectations… again. I’ve been reminded recently that even though it’s another once-in-a-lifetime school year we have ahead of us, that we’ve been here before – at the beginning of something. In fact, we’ve been here before together. Beginnings don’t need to come in the midst of a pandemic to shake things up and challenge us. Beginnings are always emerging. Every year is a new beginning, and we’ve been here together many times, LCA (75 times to be precise).
Many people fear change or the unknown parts of what lies ahead. The world around us teaches us to fear the things that are changing in our lives and to counter all of that change with our best attempts at controlling what we can. We like to tame the changes and new beginnings in our lives to protect ourselves from failure and heartache, but as I’ve reflected recently on my favorite beginnings, they have been the ones that have wound up surprising me in the end – unexpected blessings, timely challenges, transformation.
On Tuesday, our students, faculty, and staff will gather for Convocation – a time to gather in worship and offer this new beginning back to God, asking Him to make this new year one of transformation and renewal. I’m planning to share Romans 12:2 and to encourage our community to think about how they will be transformed this year.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Every school across the country is asking their students to consider all the ways they will grow this year. This is a good question. A better question though, is how will you be transformed this year? How will you take this new beginning and see it as an opportunity to be renewed and restored by our faith and friendships here at LCA? As a community, how will we pursue the things that are good and pleasing and perfect to our great God?
These are the questions that we get to ask as we begin another year together, surrounded by uncertainty and filled with cautious hope. These are the questions we get to ask because we are an academic community of faith, and Christ is at the center of every single thing we do.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, says Paul in his letter to the Romans. Be transformed. Do things differently. Seek the Lord in all you do, and delight in the discovery of not only what lies ahead, but of what God has set aside for you here.
I am filled with hopeful anticipation of a transformative year unlike any other, and as is always the case, there is no one I’d rather experience it with. When your child gets in the car on Tuesday afternoon, ask them: what will you do differently this year? I expect they’ll have some insights and stories to share from our time together.
See you on Tuesday, LCA.
Blessings,
Christine Metzger
Head of School