joyful tidings 2021

This year has seemed both long and quick at the same time. Long in the sense that a post-COVID life and return to “normal” is likely elusive, and quick in the sense that we’ve barely caught up to all the changes that have happened to our world since the beginning of the pandemic.

As if 2020 wasn’t hard enough, when the new year began, I was told that half the faculty in my department had to be converted part-time - essentially laying them off.  This was especially crushing as I had hopes the new year would bring a more positive outlook for international student enrollment. After difficult conversations with faculty about the changes, I started praying about my own future and next steps - this while striving to still lead in my current role and make plans for the future of our department.  

In all the various pivots that I envisioned, becoming an assistant principal at my former elementary school was not something I saw myself doing after 16 years of teaching college students. Yet, this is where the Lord has me after accepting a new position in July.  I knew coming into the role that the school needed to rebuild. To do this comes with painful examinations of what is broken. It is clear in my beginning months that I am not the savior to the school. Yet in this position, I have the opportunity for the first time in my professional career to explicitly lead in faith at a Christian school. It is this faith that I cling to as we work our way out of the messy and look collectively to excel in our teaching and impact young lives for the kingdom of God. 

It was a fast moving train that I stepped on when I started my new role in July. The slowed down, sheltered life of the pandemic quickly gave way to long days with lots of activity and endless tasks to complete. In all the newness, I barely know left from right and up from down. Yet I am comforted that God knows, and in the pause that I take to sit down and write my end of year reflection, the yearning in these words have become my prayer:

Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

May the hope and joy of Jesus be yours this Christmas and into our new year!