Discovering God in Your Back to School Rush

It's happening in our home, I'm sure it's either happening now, or you can 'remember when' the big back to school rush sweeps in and takes over your life. If you're anything like Melissa and I you balk at even looking at the school supplies when they make their appearance that first week of August. Like ostriches with their heads in the sand, we duck our heads, avert our gaze and try to pretend that the summer is still as seemingly endless as it was when we were 8.

Time and the turning of the seasons are not so supportive our our desires though, and there comes a point when you can't deny any longer that one season is winding down while another is ramping up. That, and the fact that we're beginning to run out of ideas to keep the kids amused and to prevent them from driving us crazy! It all points toward a time for changes.

Still, how many of us are able to open our eyes and our hearts to see God at work even within the midst of our shopping for loose-leaf, rulers, another calculator, another brand-new backpack, pens, pencils, and the exact brand of pencil crayons that "all the other kids" are sure to have? Can God even be in the middle of this great and frenzied flurry of activity?

Father Paul Brian Campbell, SJ, over at his "People for Others" blog has shared a list from Denise Gorss detailing the ways God can be, and wants to be involved in our lives, even in the midst of our most hectic times. She does a wonderful job of tying the kinds of things we find ourselves doing as we prepare our families for the shift from summer schedules to fall, to the kinds of things that help us to deepen our relationship with God.

A few of my favorites;

1. Have your supplies ready.
With school, it’s backpacks, notebooks (spiral or computer kind), pencils, and crayons. For finding God, it might be a notebook for reflective journaling, a helpful Web site for theological information, or a favorite prayer book. We can meet God with nothing, but sometimes it helps to have a few guides on the journey.

2. Do your homework. We can get by in faith life with going to church once a week, but that’s the minimum in a relationship with God. For maximum understanding, we need to do some work between “classes”—daily prayer being the most important. A relationship with God also grows from time spent in learning more about our faith, whether in a formal parish setting, informal conversations with other people of faith, or private time in reading and conversation with God.

And my personal favorite for as long as I can remember;

5. Take a break for recess. Educators know that children need breaks in the day for their minds to work most fully when it is time to focus. Retreats are one adult version of recess, allowing us to step back from the everyday tasks and reflect on what’s most important. Even if you don’t have time or resources to go away on a retreat, there are ways to step away from the ordinary to get a fresh perspective.

You can find the entire 'to do' list here; 6 Back-To-School Lessons For Finding God
I hope the transition finds you well and perhaps you, as I do, will find God's presence brings you much needed peace within this flurry of activity. I leave you with two prayers of blessing for the start of the school year;

Blessed are you, Lord God,
creator of body, mind and heart;
you have sent the Spirit of wisdom and knowledge
to guide your people in all their ways.

At the beginning of this new school year,
we implore your mercy:
bless the students, teachers and the staff of our schools,
that together we may grow in faith, hope, and love
as we learn from you and each other
how to follow your Son Jesus.

Expand the horizons of our minds,
that we may grow in wisdom,
understanding and knowledge;
deepen our commitment to seek the truth of your ways;
and enliven our faith to reach out to those in need.

Glory and praise to you, Lord, God,
in the Church and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever.

Amen.

or

God of wisdom and might,
we praise you for the wonders of our being,
for mind, body, and spirit.
Be with our children as they begin
a new school year.
Bless them and their teachers and staff.

Give them strength and grace as their bodies grow;
wisdom and knowledge to their minds
as they search for understanding;
and peace and zeal to their spirits.

We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.


Peace and God Bless