The Dillon family is hard at work trying to get our house ready to sell so that we can move to Rock Hill this summer.  As I was struggling through one of the jobs on our to-do list this weekend, I was reminded of one of my favorite quotes from C.S. Lewis.  In his book, Mere Christianity, Lewis is writing about the challenges of the Christian life and the need for us to let God work down deep inside of us.  He states, “It is the difference between paint, which is merely laid on the surface, and a dye or stain which soaks right through.”

Quite a few years ago, our fence needed some refreshing.  We decided to have it stained instead of painted.  It took longer.  It was more expensive.  But, we were told by many that it would really last.  Well, that theory has been put to the test.  I pressure cleaned much of our fence this weekend.  The most weathered parts of the fence – where the sun hits the hardest – were showing the greatest wear.  But, even after cleaning, the stain remained.  I am pretty sure that the elements had knocked off the top layer of the fence and my pressure cleaning worked on the next layer.  But, the stain really had soaked through.  As I worked up and down every slat, I was very glad that we had not “just” painted the fence.  It would not have lasted like the stain.

I believe there are significant parallels to the world of Christian education.  Deuteronomy 6 talks about the need to talk about the Scriptures when we lie down and when we rise and when we walk along the way.  We need to consider the truths of Scripture in every area of life.  We must know what God has to do with every aspect of His creation.  We can’t just learn about the world around us and then be reminded that God created it – that would be like paint.  When the weather hits, and it will, that paint would quickly peel away.  But, if we integrate into all of our teaching the truths of God’s Word, then it really will be like stain that soaks in – and survives the blistering sun and even an occasional swipe from a pressure washer!

I am pleased to know that the teachers at Westminster Catawba Christian School “get” this – and that they do integrate the TRUTH into the truths that they teach in each and every discipline.  I can’t wait to join the WCCS family and be a part of “staining” the students so that they are prepared for whatever comes their way!  It is more work.  It takes longer.  It is costly.  But, it LASTS!