As the father of two young daughters, we listen to a lot of Disney songs at the Zelenka house. We also sing along to many of these songs as well. One of my favorite is "Be Our Guest" from Beauty and the Beast. One of the lines, in particular, resonates with me deeply:
Life is so unnerving
For a servant who's not serving
He's not whole without a soul to wait upon
Ah, those good old days when we were useful...
I believe that we must approach all that we are doing within Catholic education from the standpoint of service. In this way, we no longer become disgruntled about things like returning phone calls, posting homework or staffing lunch duty. We recognize that we have a desire to serve the school as ministers of the Catholic education provided here. There is no ulterior motive. There is no desire for reward or status or social clout. We serve ICS and our students because that is what we feel called to do. We serve ICS and our students because we believe in the mission of the school and we want to be faithful to that purpose. We serve because we are thankful. We serve filled with joy. We serve because it makes us more like who we are supposed to be.
With this spirit of service in mind, we must inspire others with our energy. Passion is contagious and it doesn't matter if that passion is positive or negative - it inspires similar feelings in others. Show your enthusiasm for what you do! I want us to inspire a group that truly enjoys being in community with one another and is more than willing to do the work required to make the educational and ministerial opportunities at our school possible. We can do this by serving others joyfully and passionately. Be authentic. Be specific. Similar to the disciples who can't help but tell about Jesus (when told to tell His disciples to be quiet, Jesus says,“I tell you, if they keep silent, the stones will cry out!” -Luke 19:40), share your joy about ICS in the same way people post pictures of a good cup of coffee or a decadent dessert or tell others about an outstanding new restaurant or movie. Go and proclaim the story of ICS!
Furthermore, I want us push past settling for a conventional approach to education. We must strive for innovation and creativity in designing an educational model that sustains both rigor and fun. I believe we need to be open to the Holy Spirit who will lead us and guide us into making our school into something even more incredible than that we can currently imagine ("Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine, by the power at work within us,to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." -Ephesians 3:20-21). Pray for His direction. Pray for His patience. Pray for His wisdom. Trust that He will make the work we are currently undertaking into something special...because He will.
Finally, I firmly believe that we must orient ourselves toward two areas of focus: our faith and our children. This past school year, I set out to lay down my life in complete submission to what God wanted me to do with ICS. I reoriented my areas of focus to faith and academics. I put trust in God that He has called me to be faithful to the mission of the school, not necessarily successful from societal standards. I would ask the same out of you and those who you can inspire as well. Pray. Go to Mass. Recommit to your faith. Read scripture. Explore the catechism. Join a Bible study. Make Christ a priority in your life and in the life of your family. From there, continue to focus on our children at ICS. Be inspired by the awesome young people we have at ICS. Recognize that there is no nobler cause or purpose to perform the service God is calling you to at our great school - our children.
Jesus submitted completely to His Father's Will in service to you and me and everyone. Follow His lead - serve Him, each other and our school.
Be faithful.
Be joyful.
Be Incarnational.
Hope Will Rise.
by Michael Zelenka via Catholic Education
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