From the Chaplains
Have you ever felt tension? Ever felt stressed? – But somehow, you made it through? At the start of Term 4, I had the privilege of sharing God’s word in chapel to the staff, where I asked them these questions. I also asked them to think back on the teaching year so far and to reflect on the times when, perhaps, they had experienced such emotions. For, amongst the joy and privilege of being a teacher and alongside the opportunity and responsibility given to all staff, to equip the students at Pymble, to not just dream but to do – to change the world, sometimes there may have been challenges. And no doubt, the same can be said about all our lives and the different responsibilities we each hold. However, despite this reality, I want to suggest, that no matter what we encounter or face in life, if we build our lives on a strong foundation, we will be equipped to “make it through”.
In the Old Testament, in the book of Jeremiah, we see the importance of having a strong foundation. In Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NRSVUE) we read:
7 Blessed are those who trust in the Lord,
whose trust is the Lord.
8 They shall be like a tree planted by water,
sending out its roots by the stream.
It shall not fear when heat comes,
and its leaves shall stay green;
in the year of drought it is not anxious,
and it does not cease to bear fruit.
When a tree sends out its roots, it is doing two things. One, it is looking to tap into a source of water, so that it can receive nourishment. And two, it is spreading out and down, building a foundation on which it will withstand the elements that come its way. In the context that Jeremiah, the Priest, and Prophet, was speaking these words, we see him addressing the sins of Judah (which was fundamentally framed as idolatry). Judah had been worshipping other gods and as a result had forgotten the Torah, which had led them into corruption and a failure to act for social justice. Thus, Jeremiah was looking towards the period in 587 BCE when Jerusalem and Judah and the temple would be destroyed by Babylon. And, as a result was calling God’s people to stop putting their trust in human solutions and to put their trust back in the Lord. He was calling them to focus on their foundation. A foundation that Jeremiah exhorts is strongest when built on the trust of the Lord.
Yet, it can be said that we, like Judah, rarely stop to think about foundations. Take the construction of a building for example, something that we here at Pymble will become very familiar with as our new building projects get underway. During construction, our focus tends to fall on the outside of a building (and the length of time it takes to build), rather than the structure that is holding it up (well that’s where I tend to focus my attention). That is until, the walls of a building start to get cracks, or until a house starts to break down. It’s then, that we shift our focus from the outside, to what is underneath. It is often when we experience heat and drought in our lives, that we stop and ask the question, how good is our foundation? Where is it that we have spread our roots? And what is it that gives us nourishment and sustenance?
Jeremiah suggests that a life built on God is full of blessing. That during difficult times there is no need to fear or be anxious. He is asserting that if you have planted yourself in God, your leaves will stay green, and you will continue to bear fruit. This has been the testimony of my life, and one that I encourage those who have faith in God, to hold onto and remember. Similarly, for those who don’t hold this view, I encourage you to identify and continue tapping into the sources of nourishment that have helped you withstand the storms of life that have brought you through to where you are today.
Lastly, as we look at this tree planted with deep roots by the stream, we see that the impact it has is not only towards itself. We see that the tree creates a life-giving ecosystem, one that provides fruit for animals, sustenance for life and builds ecological relationships. The same is also true for us. That in the times when those around us are feeling stressed, or when they feel like they are in over their heads, that we would reach out, drawing from the strength of our individual foundations and be givers to those in our community who are in need. To laugh with each other, to cry with each other, to listen and to support one another, to be fully part of the Pymble family. Because when we do this, when we love one another, the way that we are called and created to love, I believe that’s when we truly will change the world.
May you all have a blessed term 4.
Michaela Antill-Cassie
Assistant Chaplain