"How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver."

                                                                                                Proverbs 16:16

This is usually the time of year I have some great epiphany to share about returning to school. But this year, returning to school has taken on a whole new meaning and I’m afraid I’m not going to be able to give you any brilliant advice to get you on the path to the dean’s list or the “A” honor roll.

For some this year, you’ll be walking back into a familiar place but in an unfamiliar way. It might look the same on the outside but on the inside, there will be someone waiting to take your temperature and there will be markers on the floor showing you the places to stand to observe social distancing. The desks will be set up based on proximity to the next student, and many of the desks will have glass or plastic partitions dividing them. There are no sports, no clubs, no marching band, no pep rallies, no student body gatherings in the auditorium, no homecoming. Even the cafeteria has been changed to meet the current crisis. I can’t speak any wisdom into that situation because I’ve never been in school like that.

For some this year, school will mean turning over in bed, grabbing your laptop, and logging in to class. With the internet in front of you, you have the world at your fingertips, and you can see your teacher on one corner of the computer screen while looking at the lecture notes on the other part. All your assignments, homework, tests, and projects will be instantly sent through the clouds into your teacher’s email box, and voila, it’s done. I’ve taken classes via the internet before, but that was in graduate school and the most interaction was an email from the professor saying, “Read these 18 books and write four papers, ten pages in length each, supporting or countering the books main argument”. Not a lot of warm fuzzies there. Just do the work and “if you have a question, you’re in graduate school; figure it out”.

For some, it’s going to be a combination of both. A few days in school, a few days out. And some will be homeschooling full time with a parent to help you through the maze of information on your way to academic nirvana. I have to beg off that one too. I’m old and it’s too confusing – that “old dog / new tricks” thing.

So, with all that being said, there is still one thing I can offer you. Education is a gift, and not everyone around the world has the access to it that you have. Never stop learning. Never stop being curious. Never think you “know enough” and shut down your brain. Information leads to knowledge and knowledge leads to wisdom and wisdom, the scripture says, is better than gold or silver.

Enjoy the gift of education and make the most of it.

"Father, Thank you for the gift of education so that we can grow in knowledge and in wisdom. In Jesus' name, AMEN."

Grace,

Rev. Dan