Summer Peace

by Adam Kronberger / Head of School

Over the summer, my son and I found ourselves lying flat on our backs in the rear of our van. As we settled into our sleeping bags, I was cautiously excited we had embarked on a spontaneous hiking trip. Right before I could comment on how hot and uncomfortable I was,  my son declared how content and comfortable HE was. If I couldn’t have the flexible resilient body of a 10-year old, I at least was going to try to have his pleasant mindset. As we stared at the dark starlit sky through the windows, He reminded me about doing our nightly summer devotions. I had of course left our father-son devotion book at home.  Just as well, as I had finally found a tolerable sleeping position after 30 minutes of adjustment. But of course my son reminded me that I had the Bible on my phone, which was conveniently located way at the front of the van. After getting my phone, we read my favorite Psalm (19), and I adjusted my suffering body and my joyful mindset hopefully one last time.  Before I could doze off to sleep, the cramped confines of the vehicle were filled with the smells of, how should I say, the digestive relief of a 10-year old boy after 3 helpings of raspberry cobbler. Ain’t parenting grand!

But truly, parenting is the second most important and rewarding relationship on this planet. First-time parents are often overwhelmed and proud of the privilege and responsibility of caring for their child.  Without parents, children would not survive.  But as the children grow and transform, the parents own transformation becomes apparent. Parents soon realize that they might have it backwards. How can parents survive without their children?

Sometimes we also have it backwards with our relationship with God. We might feel that God created us because He was lonely, and that we need to give Him some of our attention out of obligation. We might even feel glad that our good deeds or our worthy praise bring Him some temporary happiness. But of course we would be wrong. God didn’t need to create us. He wasn’t lonely. He was 100% complete in Himself.  As Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, He already had perfect fellowship and life in Himself. He lacked nothing.

God doesn’t come to us so we can fill some emptiness in Him. He comes to us to fill up the huge emptiness in us. When He created us, we rejected Him. And yet He never rejects us. God’s love is different than all other human love. It is completely unselfish.Even though God is holy and sinless, He has come near to us, and has provided a way for us to be saved from our sin and brought into his presence forever. And unlike my hiking trip, I can certainly sleep peacefully on that.​ 

– Adam Kronberger / Head of School