Headmaster's Newsletter -- Week 26

Many years ago, perhaps when I was ten or so, my father told me: “Health must always be your number one priority, without it you are powerless to help others or yourself.” Forty-six years later I see the truth of his words on a global scale. Every nation, every community, and every family is putting the health of its citizens and loved ones first. My heart goes out to all of you as we manage the challenges, big and small, that face us all at this time.

Three thoughts to share with you:

I have always loved the School Prayer. In it we pray that teachers will have “wisdom, zeal, and patience” and students who will be inspired by the spirit of “truth, honour, and duty”. These words have always struck me deeply. We need these elements in our lives. However, the prayer also finishes with a request that we be granted “a cheerful and forbearing spirit”. As I said these words out loud this morning in our Zoomed Chapel service (8:00am each weekday morning - click here), they struck me as more relevant than ever. We all need to be cheerful and forbearing these days. Not just for our own health, but for those around us as well.

 

We are all learning a ton these days! Much of it has to do with mastering technology, but we are also learning about ourselves and the people around us. Physical and social distancing is hard work. There are few distractions from our own needs and the needs of those in our homes. We face them, we confront them, constantly. My own home is a unit of four people and, as the days and weeks pass, I am more and more appreciative of them. Each is doing wonderful things for the four of us, but also for others each day. My wife, Belinda, is simply incredible. A psychologist with a speciality in PTSD and a clientele largely of veterans and first responders, she has quickly mastered the art of Telehealth and video conferencing, providing support and guidance to those in need from the early morning right into the evening. How she has energy for us at the end of the day is amazing.

It seems to me that there are three types of dogs: those who love people, those who love other dogs, and those who only love their own people, growling and barking at everyone not in their little pack. At home we have two small dogs who love people. As I returned to campus from walking Nara and Zuri on the trails behind the School yesterday, I saw Clara Cisneros walking our way. My dogs instantly ran to her and greeted her warmly. Their tail waggles and body squiggles were met with smiles and petting and good cheer. I kept my distance, well beyond two metres. Having spent most of her life in Mexico, Clara typically greets everyone with hugs and kisses on the cheek. It is lovely, but times have changed, and I felt awkward with my little wave of “hello”. My hope is that as we do our duty and keep away from others, our distancing does not disintegrate into suspicion and distrust. This is one of those times when doing the right thing feels very wrong. Be it on a small scale at home, or on a grander scale with other nations, my prayers are that we can keep loving each other and not end up growling and barking at anyone not in our pack.