Back-to-School: A Season of Celebration

Back-to-School season has practically become another holiday in our modern culture, with its own rituals, excitement, and preparations. Walk into any store in late summer, and you’ll see shelves brimming with school supplies, new clothes, and backpacks, all signaling the imminent return to the classroom. But beyond the commercial aspect, what if we embraced Back-to-School as a holiday with its own meaningful tenets? Let’s explore three key values it could celebrate: new beginnings, lifelong learning, and appreciation for educators.

New Beginnings
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” - Isaiah 43:18-19

Grace was so nervous last year as she readied herself for a new school. She was worried that she didn’t know anyone. At the same time, she was excited to make new friends and to learn new things. New beginnings are moments of fear and anticipation. Each academic year presents an opportunity for students and teachers alike to start afresh, set new goals, and strive for new achievements. As in our Christian faith, rebirth and renewal are both cyclical and necessary. It’s a chance to let go of the wounds and bad habits of the past and reforge ourselves and our path. This is not a forgetting of what happened before, but an overcoming of past negativity and an improvement for the future.

For those who are afraid of what new journeys can bring, remember, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23). The beginning of a school year is like a fresh morning, filled with God’s new mercies and endless possibilities. It’s a time for students and teachers to rely on God’s faithfulness as they step into new roles, subjects, and classrooms.

Lifelong Learning
“Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance.”  - Proverbs 1:5

Education is not merely a phase of life but a continuous journey. The tenet of lifelong learning encourages us to maintain a spirit of curiosity and openness to new knowledge throughout our lives. This principle is deeply embedded in the biblical understanding of wisdom and knowledge.

Jesus and Paul were lifelong students of the Scriptures, reading, discussing, and engaging in deep meditation on the words. Paul especially learned as he encountered others, had new encounters, and found new glories of God in this world. There are always new things to learn, new ways to be stretched, and to grow. No matter how many diplomas and awards hang on our wall or how many years in the field we have, we continue to be invited to learn new things each day. It is good for our brains and souls. 

We know that school is not only about learning ABCs and multiplication tables but also about teamwork, self-control, and being pushed out of our comfort zone. This is perhaps something we adults can be better at. It is easy to avoid new people and experiences if we are not pushed.

Appreciation for Educators
“Pay to all what is owed to them… respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.”  - Romans 13:7
“Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness." - James 3:1

Lastly, this is a time of year to lift up in prayer and support those who have devoted their lives to educating and supporting the educators. A special prayer for those who will be stepping into their first classroom as a teacher this year, those who are beginning their final year, and all those in between. Teaching is a special calling, one that is often underpaid and underappreciated. We Brethren have traditionally had many teachers in our numbers, as we have a tradition of study and education. We recognize both the power and importance of educators. 

I also want to lift up the administrators, janitors, lunch staff, bus drivers, and all of the other support staff that make a school run. Their work, though often unseen, is invaluable.

As you shop and see the “Back-To-School” specials, pass a school on your commute, or ready your student for a new year of school, take a moment to celebrate the changing of the season and lift up in prayer those returning to schools and colleges this fall. Also, take a moment and consider something new you want to learn this fall. Try cooking Vietnamese cuisine, learn Welsh, take a class on small engine repair, or push yourself to read a book a week. I would also invite you to spend some time with your Bible and a commentary or two and deepen your understanding of God by experiencing the Lord through the eyes of another. May this year be one filled with new understanding.

---