From the Chaplains
When Esther finds her ‘why’
Each year, the Uniting Church Synod hosts a leadership workshop morning for Uniting Church school leaders. This is an opportunity for these students to meet the Moderator of the Uniting Church, to meet student leaders from other Uniting Church schools and to learn about leadership and social justice from a Uniting Church point of view.
This year a group of Year 10, 11 and 12 students gathered with other school leaders to workshop ways in which their schools might better understand the needs of their school community, articulate their understanding of purpose and find practical expressions of serving their community and environment. In short, they came to discuss their ‘why’.
It has been said, “He who has a why can endure any how.”
Recently I came across a tweet from Forbes Magazine:
“A clear sense of purpose enables you to focus your efforts on what matters most, compelling you to take risks and push forward regardless of the odds or obstacles.”
It reminded me of the story of Esther in the Scriptures. Esther was an orphan girl living in Ancient Persia around 483 BCE. King Xerxes ruled Persia and extended his kingdom from India to Ethiopia. Though she was not Persian born, Esther was chosen for her beauty to be Xerxes queen. Each day, her uncle Mordecai watched over her by the palace gates. Keeping her ethnicity hidden, she became the wealthiest woman in the land, and enjoyed every privilege of her royal status.
But wealth wasn’t enough. She needed to find her why.
A few years into her reign, the Prime Minister, Haman, hatched a plot to kill every woman, man and child amongst her people. Unaware of her true identity, the King agreed to Haman’s request. At this her uncle, Mordecai, warns her of this plot and makes clear her choice: to stay silent and protect her privilege. Or speak up.
Esther 4:14
For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
She found her ‘why’.
She stood up, sent word for her people to pray while she speaks to the King. Risking her life, she uncovers her true ethnicity and calls upon the King to save her people.
Her words did what no other in the land could do- restored justice in the land.
So this week I am asking our girls: have you found your why?
Why you are in this land, amongst this people, with this family, with this education, this school?
What is your “for such a time as this’?
In groups we will explore the answer to this question by asking some further questions:
Have you found your why?
- What makes you come alive?
- What are your innate strengths?
- Where do you add the greatest value?
- How will you measure your life?
My prayer is that each of our students will grow in understanding their “why”…and that our world will be forever changed because of it.
Cass Blake
College Chaplain