The Big Finish

Dear Classical Community,

Somehow, the 2022-2023 school year is almost over. I pray you and your family have a restful spring break and will be ready to return for “the big finish.”

What will that look like for you and your students?

Last Saturday, I completed the first of what I hope will be many more bike races. Only thirty-five miles this first time, but that was plenty as much of it was on wet gravel; and, if you’ll remember, it was cold. I’ve been reflecting on the way I finished the race. Over the last ten miles or so, I needed to pull over a couple of times and rest. It didn’t feel great to see other riders pass me in those moments, nor did it feel good to be passed like I was sitting still at other times in the race. But, thanks be to God, I finished; and as an added bonus, I wasn’t last! And at the finish line: in spite of being dirty, sweaty, and just gross – my wife hugged me!

First, let me say this: you are not in a race with anyone to finish the school year, except for perhaps being in a race with yourself, like I was. My goal was not to win that first race; it was to finish well. 

I don’t get to determine what finishing this school year well looks like for your family; in fact, ultimately, neither do you. Let God take that burden from you. Yours is to finish well. His is to sustain you day by day. And perhaps Samwise Gamgee’s thoughts will be helpful here: “In that hour of trial it was the love of his master that helped most to hold him firm…” (Tolkien, J.R.R. The Return Of The King, p. 83)

Take the spring break; have a ton of fun! But also purposefully seek the LORD and ask Him to help your family finish 2022-2023 well, faithful and joyful to the end.

Respectfully in Christ,
Jim P. McCormick, M.Ed.
Blessed to be Head of School