Wisdom, Humility, and School Options in a Time of COVID

If you are reading this, odds are you are a parent trying to wrestle with the uncertainty of schooling options for this fall. I don’t have a school age child, but I know how you feel. As a high risk family, we have had to make hard decisions throughout this pandemic regarding risk, opportunity, and value. There is a sea of uncertainty in front of us, there are competing values and responsibilities, there is both perceived risk and real risk.

Let me begin with this: May the peace of Christ be upon you.

Psalm 24:1-2, “The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.”

Here is the fundamental truth that you can anchor yourself in right now:

God goes before you. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Rom. 8:28)

For some of you, the shame of not knowing what to do or anticipated shame of making the wrong decision is so thick. Let me remind you: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 8:1)

Moms and dads, you will not be measured by the decision you reach for your child’s education. This would be true in the best of circumstances and is certainly true in the most unanticipated circumstances. You are not measured by your success as a parent, if you are in Christ Jesus, you are measured by the belovedness of Christ Jesus. And the Father’s love is abundant and unbreakable for the Son...and all those who are in the Son.

On that foundation, how do we move forward as a people heading into the fall? How do we seek the good of this city? How do we proceed with wisdom, humility, generosity, and unity?

I wanted to lay out a few principles for us as a church family, as the individual households that make up this church family, look to make schooling decisions.

There are many faithful ways forward.

It can be easy, when the stakes feel high, to determine that there must be only one right way. By holding ourselves to this view, we immediately make the decision appear to be a moral and categorical one. When this happens we are standing on the precipice of shame or shaming. We feel the pressure of shame telling us we better not mess up and we feel the pressure to shame by justifying our decision by shaming the alternatives.

Let me tell you this: There is not only one right way to make a plan for your child’s education this fall. There are many faithful ways forward.

Let that cool you down. Your identity isn’t up for grabs, your worth as a parent isn’t subject to the course you choose.

Let this mark you with generosity as you approach families and neighbors who choose a different course. Because the issue isn’t “right” or “wrong,” it will allow you to live freely and confidently with your decision, without shame or the need to shame others.

We must seek the good of the city, even when it doesn’t align with our preferences.

Our city and district are making some tough choices. You may not like all of them, you may love all of them. Regardless of our opinions, we are a people who are committed to being in Richardson on purpose. We are here to bless this city. As Christians, we have dual citizenship: citizenship in God’s kingdom and citizenship here in this place at this time.

We must exchange grumbling and complaining for prayer and blessing. This doesn’t mean we have to agree with every decision our city and district make, but it means that we should receive them as a people confident that God governs the world.

If you are tempted to vent your frustrations on social media, maybe consider pausing to pray instead. Or, reaching out to a trusted friend in Christ and telling them instead. Then taking time to pray through your anger and anxiety.

A simple rule to live by in this age of social media when we are sad, mad, or scared:

Pray before posting.

Above all, we must not decouple or detach ourselves from the trials, sorrows, and hardships of our neighbors and this city. I often walk through the city of Richardson and tell God, “Whatever you do to this city, you will do to me.” Right now, our city, along with every other city in the country is facing tough questions about the right approach to civic order and education for its students. We must face it with them. Face it together. As people of the Savior who speaks to the chaos of the sea: “Peace, be still.”

We are not unique in our struggle and we must stand in solidarity with our neighbors, even if we take different roads forward.

We must acknowledge that not everyone has the same options and opportunities.

This one is going to sting a bit, but it needs to. As you make decisions regarding the schooling options for your children and family, recognize that not everyone in our church and in our city has the same trials or options you do.

Some families are immunocompromised or on the high end of the risk spectrum and will have to choose non-public options for this year. Many families are in a place where both parents work outside of the home in order to provide for their families. Many families are not in a place where they can afford private tutors, private education options, or the time required to homeschool.

This is true inside and outside of our church.

This means that we need to hold the choice we make for education this year with incredible sobriety, humility, graciousness, and generosity. We need to be honest with ourselves about the way that our unique trials and privileges are wrapped up into the decisions we make.

I know that so many of us are worried. I can feel it in our conversations and I have been on my knees in prayer for you and your families. We are not alone as we journey forward, the Spirit of God goes with us and it is my prayer that he would mark the life of the people of Mosaic with all the fruit of the Spirit.

That we would be a people who embody graciousness, wisdom, unity, patience, peace, confidence, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, self-control.

You are loved in Christ and you are loved in this church family.

May God give us wisdom. May he grant you peace.

Kyle WorleyJuly 28, 2020