Who even thought of this crazy idea called “school”? It’s an amazing amount of work. Assignments, projects, drama (on stage and off), papers to grade, kids to drive, events to plan and attend. Blood, sweat, and tears are an almost every day occurrence. Ask Mr. T, he’ll tell you about middle school’s desperate need for regular showers and quality deodorant. (Axe doesn’t count). Either we have a good reason for all this or we’re just nuts. So, why school?
Thankfully, there are good reasons. One very good reason is that God made all of us to be kings and queens. In the very beginning when God spoke and the world burst into existence, God also formed humanity and commanded them, “rule!”, “reign!”, and “Have dominion over the birds, and the sea, and the land.” School is like a kingdom training ground where we work the muscles of our minds, bodies and hearts. Our Creator calls us as his little governors to say along with him, let there be light, beauty, and order. We are called to give shape to the chaos of numbers and letters; to form paint into portraits; to turn brass, wire, wood, diaphragms, and air into the Hallelujah Chorus. We are the keepers of the earth and of one another. The little kings under the King of Kings.
Still, some of us might feel like our work doesn’t accomplish very much. It’s not hard to know that our world is broken. That we ourselves are bent. That the flood of sin and chaos constantly threatens to undo even our best efforts. Why school then? Is it really worth the struggle? Education might be worthless except that God himself says, “I will complete the work I began in you.” (Phil 1:6) Over and over again God reassures us that our labor in him is not in vain because as we are working, living, and striving he works behind all of it. What Christ accomplished on the cross was more than just forgiveness of sins. He made a promise that one day everything will be right. Why school? We work, and study and strive because Jesus “is making all things new!” (Rev 21:5)
- Andrew Metzger
Junior High Social Studies
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