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Romans 12: 1-8

Back to School: Renewing Our Minds

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Romans 12: 1-8

Back to School: Renewing Our Minds

By Dr. Dan Wuori

It’s a special time of year, isn’t it? Whether you’ve already started – or you’re about to go back – it’s about time to start a new school year. Isn’t that exciting? A new year means new teachers and new friends – and the chance to catch up with old friends as well.

We usually spend our time together talking about the week’s gospel lesson, but today I wanted to spend a little time thinking about one of our other verses. It’s from the Apostle Paul’s Letter to the Romans and as I read it this week I couldn’t help but think how perfect it was for the beginning of a new school year.

Paul talks about two things in particular that just really fit nicely with this special time of year.

First, he tells us to “be transformed by the renewing of (our) minds.” And that’s what school is all about, isn’t it? We change and grow by learning new things. (Paul is hoping that our learning will help us to better understand the choices that God would have us make.)

The other thing he talks about is how within God’s family everyone has different gifts and strengths. You might be good at one thing and I might be good at another. That sounds a lot like a classroom, doesn’t it – and what an important thing to remember as we start the year!

In a classroom everyone has the chance to be a teacher (of something) – but maybe more important is the reminder that there are things that we can learn from everyone. (I hope you’ll always remember that.)

So as we start school, I thought we might pray today for the year ahead. Will you join me?

Dear God,

Thank you for a wonderful summer and for bringing us to the beginning of a new school year. Watch and guide us as we transform our minds with new learning – and help us to remember that we have both things to teach and important lessons to learn.

Amen.

Copyright 2008, Dan Wuori. Used by permission.