A Beacon of Light...

Knowing that I would be speaking to the group in only a few hours, I was wrestling with those thoughts, trying to find just the right message and story that might help convey my main points, and, ideally, inspire the group in some way. Towards the end of my walk, the light of the day began to break; however, being such a cloudy morning, the sky remained fairly dark. The winds also began to pick up, and the waves on the surrounding waters grew. The coolness of the air was a welcome relief, for I had walked for over an hour, and at a good pace, and thus, I decided to grab a hot cup of coffee, and soak in both the scenery and the solitude for a few more minutes.

 

Sitting down on the soft, damp grass, sipping on on my coffee, and staring out across those murky waters, I noticed in the far distance, a persistent blinking light, flashing every few seconds. While only a seemingly small torch, this steady presence was actually quite comforting and, in a strange way, beautiful. With the waters lapping loudly around me, and the strong gusts of breeze, this bright beacon offered a wonderful contrast to its' dark surroundings. Much to my own surprise, I became a bit mesmerized and found myself being drawn to this light and its' peaceful presence. Nearly twenty minutes passed while I sat in this trance-like state, and the realization that I would be speaking to the group in an hour forced my hurried departure from this spot. Accordingly, I arose, moved quickly back to my room, and prepared for the meeting.

 

Later that morning, in speaking to the Team, I referenced this "Beacon of Light", sharing my experience from only a few hours before. In telling my short story, I noted that Palmer Trinity School embraces this notion of "light" wholeheartedly. In our regular Chapel services each week we recite our School Prayer together. This exercise is a communal one which I always find to be incredibly meaningful and inspirational. Hearing the voices of nearly 1,000 individuals is quite stirring, and I am reminded of the power of the message, in its' simple, yet forceful usage of the word "light". We embrace the "light", and if I may be so bold, Palmer Trinity School serves as such a "Beacon of Light" for our greater Community. As we are guided by a greater Mission and seek "to lead lives of virtue, humanity, and spirit", we work consciously each and every day to realize the highest Guiding Principles and live honorably. Moreover, our students look to us for such guidance and inspiration. We hold real power and great responsibility. For many of our young adults, we can and will be that unwavering presence at a time of their lives in which those "murky waters" can be threatening, and, at times, overwhelming.

 

As we begin the 2018-19 school year, let us pledge to do all that we can to shine brightly, and serve as a Beacon of Light, steadily signaling to our students, and helping them to navigate safely along their journey.