News from Ms. Linda Dahnke, Head of School

New Year Resolutions

Many of us are firm believers in New Year's Resolutions. I used to try to make these myself, until I realized that omitting certain things in my life for 365 days was just setting me up for failure. I know myself well enough to know that if I make things off-limits, the magnetic pull towards them becomes even greater for me and eventually, I just give in. Every year, I read about the top resolutions that are made by well-intentioned individuals. In early February, the paper revisits these resolutions only to discover that only about ten percent are still sticking to these self-made promises.

So, why am I writing about New Year Resolutions when it is only August? Simply because we are beginning a New School Year. For our new teachers (and our new administrator), we can proudly say that we have almost made it through the first week with students. The students can proudly announce that they have made it to the next grade level and the eighth graders are able to announce that they are entering their final year at BCA. Time moves on quickly and the best we can do is approach each new day as a day to begin again with the guidance and support from our Heavenly Father.

One of the most common resolutions has to be to lose weight. If we look at this in regard to a new school year, it might include the extra burden of sin and the weight of our sin that we carry around. God has promised us that if we come to Him and ask forgiveness for our sins, He will take that burden from us and will not only forgive but He will also forget. We need the promise of a new year to begin again and to leave the past in the past.

Another resolution is to exercise more often. In our Christian lives, we will have many mountain top experiences which re-energize us and get us excited for a while. We are excited for a new school year, new teachers, and probably new clothes. Then, we hit a slump and things tend to slide. We get out of the routine of Bible reading and prayer that we had previously established. Just like a good workout revives us for the day's activities, so does time spent with God. As the saying goes, "Exercise daily; walk with God."

Finally, a popular resolution revolves around organization. Being organized for the new school year means that we have to regroup and reorganize our family lives but also our walk with God. Organizing our lives might include daily devotions, constant prayer, a time of meditation, and a change to focus on those things that matter most including family, friends, career or education. Spending time with Him in prayer and meditation does not necessarily take the highest priority when we are preparing for meetings, or a school day. Yet, coincidentally, our time becomes even more limited when we leave Him out of our plans or try to function without Him as a part of our day.

If you have made New Year resolutions, I wish you the best in trying to keep those promises to yourself. If not, take a self-inventory and decide to do things a bit differently today so that you can continue to be the person whom God created you to be. Welcome to the new school year! Praying God's blessings on us all as we grow together in Him.