Monthly Archives: August 2014

Best Weeks EVER?!?!?!

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Today (Friday, 8/22/14) marks the end of the second week of the 2014-15 school year at Westminster Catawba Christian School.  As I look back on my last twenty-five years of service in Christian education, I don’t think there are any two consecutive weeks that I have enjoyed more than I have these two.  So many moments stand out.  My Installation Service at Westminster Presbyterian Church last Sunday was a blessing beyond description.  We had our first full board meeting of the year this week and it was so encouraging to see their dedication to our Lord and to our school!  I have had the privilege of leading faculty devotions on both campuses and have been blessed by the opportunity to open up the Word of God with them.  I was able to attend three chapel services – two on the Lower School campus and one at the Upper School.  It is always moving for me to see someone sharing the truths of the gospel with kids and young adults – especially when the speakers are particularly gifted and called to reach that particular age group.  (And, I will have the privilege of speaking in all three of those chapels in the next two weeks!)

 

I have roamed the halls of both campuses peeking in on classes in session.  I have seen everything from the littlest ones singing songs as they sat in a circle on the carpet to older elementary students studying science with numerous containers of water full of those ever-so-important hands-on activities to middle school students playing PE in the gym to high school students spread throughout a math classroom all working out problems on the whiteboard.  I even stood in the upper school science hallway and watched as the ukulele class spread out across the courtyard with instruments in hand.  Just last evening, I was able to meet many Lower School parents at our Open House event and then headed out to Camp Canaan to offer a devotional to the WCCS Class of 2015 as part of their senior retreat.

 

Mr. Furrow is on the left wearing a yellow shirt and blue shower cap. I am on the right in the blue shirt enjoying the accurate dump from Seth Roddey!

Mr. Furrow is on the left wearing a yellow shirt and blue shower cap. I am on the right in the blue shirt enjoying the accurate dump from Seth Roddey!

I got to close out the second week of school by joining the Upper School faculty and students at Westminster Park as they wrapped up their retreats – even joining Mr. Furrow in the ice-bucket challenge in honor of a great friend who is still fighting ALS, Cliff Joyner!  I will end the day traveling to Northside Christian Academy with my wife to watch our volleyball and soccer teams play (particularly looking forward to cheering on two Dillon kids and their teammates as they compete).  Oh yeah… tomorrow is the High Cotton Classic where I will join with other WCCS staff and board members serving dinner at the High Cotton Café!

 

I simply don’t know how these weeks could have been any better.  Yes, there were quite a few meetings and challenges and struggles.  But, these two weeks have simply added to the confirmation that God has called me and my family to WCCS, that He has been at work here for a long time, that His hand is still upon us, and that we all must remain on our knees seeking His face and His blessing.  Scripture teaches us that all good and perfect gifts are from above.  As I look back on the best two weeks ever, I can do nothing but praise Him!  I hope that you will join me in singing His praises as we wrap up week 2 at WCCS!

 

Note:  For those who were not able to attend the installation service referenced above, you can actually view the service on the church’s Vimeo page at http://vimeo.com/channels/wpctraditional.  Select the service entitled 2014 August 17 – Learning to Be Selfish.  The installation piece begins 12 minutes and 30 seconds into the video, but I highly recommend you watch the entire service as the message that follows the installation will challenge you greatly – as it did me!

Family Gatherings…

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Well, it’s official.  The 2014-15 school year has begun at Westminster Catawba Christian School.  I have used the word, “excited,” pretty frequently when talking about my perspective on the upcoming school year.  “Excited” is a word normally reserved for something in the future.  And, while I am very aware that there is an entire school year – minus about an hour – to look forward to, my focus this morning has turned to an awareness of the blessings that God has bestowed on all of us.  As I ponder those blessings, I am overwhelmed at the blessings of family gatherings past, present, and future!!!

As many do during summer months, the Dillon family had opportunity to spend time with family, including extended family.  It may be just me, but some of the most special gatherings this past summer were around a table of food.  We spent a good bit of time with my wife’s side of the family that provided rich opportunities to recount God’s goodness, especially in the last year.  We gathered with my side of the family often, even this past weekend, and just spent time together with loved ones.  These have been very special times, filled with laughter and tears, and lots of hugs.

In the last week, I have come to see firsthand that the Westminster Catawba Christian School community is also a family.  Just nine days ago, one of our seniors tragically lost her brother in an accident.  In the midst of mourning, family was all around.  This included “real” family with bloodlines.  It also included the WCCS family.  I had the privilege of visiting with the family in their home in the midst of their hurt, and was so pleased to see quite a few WCCS folks there already caring for their classmate/sister.  The funeral was last Wednesday and, again, the WCCS family showed up.  There were lots of tears, a few smiles, and even more hugs – as there should be when family is together.

This morning marked the first day of school.  I was invited to the WCCS Class of 2015 breakfast at the home of one of our seniors and was simply delighted to see this family gathering, including seniors and their parents.  I watched returning seniors reconnect while also welcoming a new classmate and continuing to care for the young lady mentioned above.  Again, family was together – eating together, laughing together, and so many hugs!

I rushed back to the Upper School Campus to greet students as they began a new school year.  I couldn’t believe it.  As I pulled up, there were LOTS of student leaders standing around the fountain handing out donuts to students and parents as they arrived for the first day of school.  Guess what I saw?  Food, smiles, some tired eyes, a couple tears, and lots of hugs as students saw each other for the first time in quite a while.

Then, it continued when Mr. Falde came out front to be a part of the welcoming committee.  Very few students entered the building without getting a hug and a huge smile from this beloved teacher.  I felt like that new family member at the family reunion just taking it all in.  But, I also got excited (there’s that word again) about my new WCCS family.  I already can’t wait for that first day of school next year!

Until then, I am thrilled to take every advantage of family gatherings – especially those with food, smiles, a few tears, lots of hugs, and sharing together the rich blessings of God.  That is why we are going to end this first day of school with a “family lunch” for the entire WCCS family.  My prayer is that this will be the first (or second or third) time OF MANY during this school year when we are all reminded that WE ARE FAMILY!