It’s that time of year when all the kids get back to the business of learning.  Buses, backpacks, and books are the hot commodities at the moment.  But what if you’re done with school?  Well fear not, there’s still hope for you!

The classroom is your life.  One of my favorite quotes is, “School’s in session.”  When faced with adversity, set-backs, frustration, anxiety, or worse, simply repeat that phrase back to yourself.

“School’s in session.  School’s in session.  School’s in session.”

Then consider this.  What could God possibly be wanting you to learn in this moment?

I wondered about that when I recently read the story in John 9 about the man born blind.  He must have wondered often, “Why did this happen to me…what purpose could God have in mind?”  Then Jesus shows up, heals him, and sets the record straight like this:

Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.  (John 9:3)

So that the works of God might be displayed in him.  What would you or I have learned in that classroom?  Then think about our current situation.  Consider the “lessons” that are part of our lives.

• What about the things that frustrate me?
• Or anger me?
• Or annoy me?
• Or confound me?
• Or stymie me?
• Or slow me down?
• Or block my goals?
• Or delay me?

Is it possible that in those moments, the works of God could be displayed in you or me?  Is it possible that God’s work could involve us actually learning, and growing into the person he made us to be?  For his glory?

School’s in session.  Maybe it’s time for all of us to go back to school.

Hope to see you in class!

-Pastor Mark