At the end of my time at Redeemer I was gifted a small leather bound book entitled ”52 Hebrew Words every Christian should know” by Dave Adamson. At every meeting of the executive here at LEQ this year we have dived into this book and each time God has spoken to us. This week the word was Orach meaning path. We often perceive our life is a path or road we are walking down. The Book of Proverbs (4:18) describes that “The path of righteousness is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day”.
I think we all want a path that shines bright, right? But for many of us, our path sometimes feels like it is dark and lonely or more precarious and winding. The Hebrew word we translate as “path” in this verse is orach which is the word that describes the direction of your life. See, this word refers to a well-trodden path.
At this juncture in my time as ED, and for LEQ and the church as a whole, we have been asked to contemplate something other than the well-trodden path. The way for incorporation, the constitution, the Enterprise Bargaining for this year may appear to be a path that gets darker rather than lighter. I apologise if myself and the team at LEQ have exacerbated this through a lack of recent communication. The absolute truth is that we are all over stretched as we try to support the well trodden path of business as usual at the same time as we orienteer alongside yourselves, CLEQ and the church along a whole new pathway toward synod.
So here is what I can tell you at the moment:
- The CLEQ Incorporation Working Party have met four times this year with the most recent meeting including principal representatives of Luke Schoff, Colin Minke, Anthony Dyer and Bronwyn Dolling.
- The aim of this group is to provide input to CLEQ and the District on a vast range of matters involving incorporation. Suffice to say the matter is deep and complex.
- Next week, following decisions being made at DCB and CLEQ, I will hold a zoom session on Thursday for principals to give an update and prepare for LPAQ and Schools Assembly.
- In relation to the EB. Thank you for forwarding information about union activities and expressing concerns. The information being shared is not accurate. Our DED for People and Culture Nick V and myself will hold a zoom briefing next Wednesday on this matter. This will give you the relevant information to respond to staff queries and to also prep for the sessions at the upcoming LPAQ.
While we celebrate the first normal start to the school year in years, at LEQ we do not underestimate that at times your path appears bright and other times is dark and challenging.
So what does it mean for us to walk on God’s path? Psalm 119:9 says, “How can a young man (or woman) keep his/her way pure? By Guarding it according to Your word”. This verse tells us that we keep to Gods’ path by worshipping and thanking God, studying His Word, having community with each other, doing justice, loving mercy and walking humbly.
Which ever way God asks us to follow His Orach, may we do so according to His Word.
God Bless,
Tanya
