As some of you may know, I am an avid baseball fan. During our many days and evenings at home during the pandemic I have been watching a lot of Toronto Blue Jays baseball games on TV. I miss going to see games at the Rogers Centre.  As our family was watching the Blue Jays game a couple of weekends ago, one of the starting pitchers did not have a strong start. In fact, I remember one of the announcers saying the pitcher had to make some ‘in game adjustments’ if he was going to last the expected six or seven innings for a starting pitcher.  Well, after a rough first inning, the pitcher did make some ‘in game’ adjustments and continued to pitch into the seventh inning. In fact, he did not surrender another hit for the rest of the game. He actually seemed to get stronger as the game progressed.  I wonder if we can learn something from the resiliency of that starting pitcher?

In our devotions and Bible classes in grade eight over the past couple of weeks we have been focussing on Paul and his missionary journeys. I am reminded of this verse from Philippians 3:14 where Paul writes: “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”  The 2020-2021 school year is quickly coming to a close. We at Woodstock Christian School have had to make a number of ‘in game adjustments’ throughout this school year.  Our students have gone from in person learning to remote learning twice this year.  For the most part, we have been able to make our adjustments.  It has not always been easy, but we have done it. As we work to finish out this school year let us all continue to press on. Perhaps we could even tap into our own resiliency and work at getting stronger as the year comes to a close. Thank you to all of the parents in our school community who have stepped up in a big way to support our students while learning from home.  I have appreciated being able to partner with you throughout our school year.                       

Tony Schaafsma