As a teenager in the 1990s, I owned a white pair of basketball boots with a bright green swoosh splashed down the side, just like everyone else did in one form or another. They had enormous tongues: thick, padded, and proudly sticking out well above the laces. From a distance, they looked like impressive feats of engineering, the tongue boldly displaying the brand like a peacock showing its plumage. Up close, however, they were simply… ridiculous.
The problem was not only how they looked. The real issue was that you could not actually run in them very well. The tongues flopped around, the shoes felt heavy, and they were far from practical for basketball, or any sport. But none of that mattered. Everyone had them. And when you are a teenager, that can be reason enough.So I wore them. I tripped in them. I struggled through sport in them. And I did it gladly, because wearing those shoes meant you belonged. I remember pointing them out within the right social groups, nodding with confidence that these shoes 'fit the brief', and quietly looking for reassurance from friends as I flop-tongued my way around the court. It is interesting what we are willing to do, even taking a step backwards, just to feel that sense of belonging.
Looking back, it is funny. But it also reveals something deeply human.From a very young age, we are wired for belonging. We want to be part of the group. We want to feel accepted, seen, and included. Sometimes that means wearing questionable fashion, sporting hairstyles that probably should not have made a return, or saying things we do not fully believe, simply to fit in.
Christian community, as God intends it, offers belonging that can be far better. This is at the heart of Adventist education.
Scripture reminds us that we are created to be in Gods community, gifted with purpose and value. We belong because of His grace, love, and acceptance, and within that belonging we are invited to be unique, creative, and truly known in a healthy community of belonging. We see this in your children as they share the gifts within them that make them uniquely themselves, through areas such as art, music, thinking processes, leadership, creativity, and oratory.
God’s design is that belonging comes first, and within the safety of that community, transformation toward what is better can take place.That is what we want for your children. We want them to experience genuine belonging here, to know they are safe, known, and valued, from that place, to grow and learn toward becoming their best whole selves.
May you and your family continue to find communities of belonging where God’s acceptance abounds, and where you are gently shaped and transformed toward what is good. We are glad you are part of our school community, and if you are seeking another group that can offer a rich sense of belonging, there are many churches associated with our school. We would be very happy to help connect you with one.
Mr Stuart Clark
Head of Primary
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