Dear Summit Parents;
Recently I went to see Dunkirk. There is no pause in this movie – the action is gripping, the cinematography is fantastic, and the story lines are intricately woven in a creative, fascinating way. Yes, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie.
While the characters are fictional, the themes of the story are real. Each of the primary characters in each of the three stories (you will understand when you see the movie) display a tenacity that only conflict draws out of a person. There is the soldier who overcomes all misfortune to survive again and again. There is the pilot who is singularly focused on the offensive, repeatedly risking his own life. And there is the boat captain, understanding the cost of commitment and personal sacrifice for the good of others.
There are parallels in this movie to a life of faith. Paul clearly understood our life of faith is a challenge, and he wrote some very difficult words to his disciple, Timothy, in the second letter, chapter 2:
3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since
his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to
the rules. 6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7 Think over what
I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
The soldier, the athlete, the farmer – all considered to be occupations demanding diligence, tenacity, and faith. Suffering, competing, hard-working – are these adjectives that describe you? That describe me? How about a more difficult question – is this what you desire for your children?
Those are tough questions, but I am encouraged by how Paul ends this thought in verse 7, promising the Lord will give us understanding. By His grace He will accomplish this understanding in us. By grace He will accomplish this understanding in our children!
One of the chapel themes this year is The Amazing Race, encompassing ideas such as preparation, training, hurdles, team, and the “perfect” runner (Jesus). What great lessons these will be as the children grow in their faith at home, in their church fellowships, and at school. As we know this is a process, it lasts a lifetime, and it will be tested. As a school it is our joy to partner with you in this process of preparing your sons and daughters academically, socially, physically, and spiritually.
Welcome back to a new school year. Thank you for praying for the school, and for praying for each student, for each family, and for each teacher. Pray that together we will fight the good fight, that we will finish the race, that we will keep the faith (4:7).
In the Grip of His Grace,
Tim Grimes, Headmaster
RSS Feed
