In the beginning……
There is nothing more exciting and nerve-wracking than a blank piece of paper – the possibilities, the rising hope, the fresh start. I feel that at the start of every school year. I have lived my whole life by the calendar of the school year – at school and university, working as a teacher and then with now nearly 20 years of my own children in education….the beginning of a new school year is more important than New Year. Every year I make resolutions. I can’t help myself. I believe in better. ‘This year, things will be different.’ ‘We’ll be more organised.’ ‘We’ll take more time over homework and reading.’ ‘We’ll keep in touch with the school better.’ ‘We’ll eat more healthier and exercise more.’
Keir, my 19 year old, has always been vocal in his skepticism. ‘Why on earth do you bother with all this, Mum? You know it won’t work. You know we can’t keep it up. I give it a week, not even that, and then everything will be back to exactly how it was.’ And of course, he’s generally right.
But here I am again at the start of a new school year. It’s a big one in this house too. My youngest Nicola starts Secondary School today and boy, do I have some aspirations about getting it more right this year. These hopes rise up in me and cannot be contained. Hope does indeed spring eternal. I am sitting here looking across the valley to Low Fell and watching the sun rise at the dawn of a new day – what’s not to love? It’s a new day packed with fresh possibilities. Things can be different. Life can be better. I can be the best I can be.
Many of you are facing a fresh start this week with little ones starting school for the first time, older ones starting Sixth Form or preparing to go away to university or maybe you are about to start a new job……I hope the natural nerves and emotion are not smothering the hopes and dreams that this new beginning brings.
The Bible opens with the words ‘In the beginning……’ I love that. I love that this collection of 66 books starts at the very beginning and ends….well, never ends actually…..with eternity spreading out before us. This journey spans the whole of human history. And it started with a beginning, a blank piece of paper. God started with nothing and could create anything – and he created this. God filled his sheet of paper with this incredibly wonderful universe bursting with life and possibilities.
Of course, we as humans have made our mark on this amazing Creation. I couldn’t get this song out of my head. It starts ‘In the beginning……’ and any of you from my generation might enjoy this blast from the past. (The rest of you will look on bemused, no doubt). It shows how wrong we can get it. (and probably will – even today!)
I hope this new day, this new school year bring wonderfully fresh hope and possibilities for you and your families. Please share how it feels to be at a new beginning with us if you can.
