Reflection for the Christmas Season 2020:

Merry Christmas!  This reflection comes at a very strange time.  It is a time that should be inspired by Peace and Hope; inspired by Love and Promises; inspired by the birth of Jesus Christ.  My prayer is that all of these things are still very much inspiring your Christmas mindset this year.  This Christmas however, there are many more things that will be impactful as we celebrate what marks the reason for our faith as Christians.  This year has been extremely challenging and unpredictable and although there will be some heavy feelings and memories which the past year has brought, we must remain focused on the promise of God’s future. 

Like most of you, I have done my fair share of reflecting on the past 362 days.  There hasn’t been much breathing room, professionally or personally, during that time.  Perhaps several of you have struggled with the same feelings.  As I look around at the students, staff, families, etc. it becomes easy to remember why OLMC is here; however, it also is a constant reminder of all that has been taken away in this past year.  There have been times when it has been difficult to consider the next day and what it may bring and yet, here we are getting ready to walk into 2021 with another year in the books and a new one just around the corner.  Perhaps now more than ever it is important to find perspective in an unlikely source. 

To find some perspective on what we can appreciate over the past year, I turned to the OLMC 8^th grade class.  I spoke with both classes regarding our (mine, yours, everyone’s) mindset and mentality that we use as to how we approach the impactful things, both positive and negative, in our lives.  It has been ever-so-easy to focus on the negative things that this year has brought to us but for a different perspective, I asked the 8^th grade class of OLMC to give me their positive things that this year has brought to us.  This is what the students provided for all of you: 

I like getting snacks at school

I like spending time with my class this year

I enjoy all the time I’m spending with my family

I like the A and B days

I like my homeroom

I like the pay grade given in class

My family has become closer

I became really close to my homeroom

We got to have baseball

I like that we have new classes

I appreciate spending time with my family

You appreciate your teachers and peers a lot more this year

I’m thankful that my parents still have their jobs and we get to be in school

Less homework because we do more in class

I found myself and who I am

Store lines are shorter because they only allow 10 people in at a time

There are several more but I think you get the picture.  These are just some of the things that our 8^th grade students have discovered are important during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Out of the mouth of babes I believe the saying goes however, I truly believe that at times like these, we may all need to look outside of our usual “informative” places in order to see what’s truly important and to gain true perspective. 

During this Christmas season I pray that each of you is able to find some peace and joy in these words from your children.  I pray that each of you remains safe and blessed, and that all of you have a very merry Christmas!

Mr. Swann – Principal

 

Reflection 12/15/20:

“By what Authority are you doing these things?  And who gave you that authority?”  Yesterday’s Gospel discusses the chief priests and elders asking Jesus why he thought he had the authority to teach in the temple.  Can you imagine questioning Jesus on who gave Him the authority to do anything?  My first response to this question was of course not, I can’t imagine doing that.  However, on second consideration, the majority of today’s society meets all authority with some level of skepticism doesn’t it? 

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard this type skepticism in my every day discussions with people; the doctor says that the child’s diagnosis is this: “I don’t think that doctor knows what he’s talking about”; the coach calls a particular play in a particular situation: “That coach is an idiot, he should have ran this..”; police officers, teachers, dentists….let’s face it, anyone who attempts to tell us something we don’t 100% agree with and watch out if they actually offer constructive criticism to go along with it.  Trust me, I’ve been guilty of this skepticism myself and I’ve certainly had my judgement/decision process questioned more than a fair share.  So why is it so difficult for us, why was it so difficult for the chief priests and elders, to accept the knowledge base from someone other than ourselves?  Is it really because we know that we can do whatever it is better or, is it because we struggle with hearing the truth? 

The truth is that, just as Jesus says in John 3:11, “We speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen”.  The truth is where Christ’s authority comes from.  The truth is often times difficult to hear in our lives and challenging to adhere to.  The truth is what we are all supposed to listen to and follow.  Christ calls us as disciples to bear witness to the truth capital “T”. 

The year 2020 has filled us with skepticism because of false truths to the point of dimensioning our hope.  May this Advent Season remind us all of our responsibility to the Truth of Jesus Christ and strengthen our resolve while increasing peace with and among us. 

Mr. Swann – Principal