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This is Soul Care Week, a concentrated time of spiritual emphasis. Faith-based schools around the country oftentimes hold a Spiritual Emphasis Week, which often involves a guest speaker. In our second year with Soul Care Week, I’m convinced that we have developed something very unique and special – truly a one of a kind, at least in the high school setting. Rather than hold traditional chapel services (which are important), our students and faculty are learning and participating in age-old Christian practices.
Credit for all of the creativity started with our Christian Life Directors – Melinda Carlson and Ashley Nock. They shared this – We each have things that we do daily and strategically to take care of ourselves. We exercise, we read, we eat right, we get check-ups, we invest our money, and we connect with people. When it comes to our souls, we tend to let life happen to us. What if we developed some intentional practices to develop our awareness of God, and in turn experience a place deep within that nurtures our life at its core – that is soul care.
Mrs. Carlson and Ms. Nock summarized Soul Care Week further – It’s a week of Christian spiritual practices with the intention to connect to Jesus Christ and to ourselves. And each practice is based on Holy Scripture with steps that help quiet our minds and open our hearts to an invitation that God is offering to us.
They framed the week through the lens of Jesus’ words in the Gospel of Matthew when He posed these two questions – What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?
Although there are many Christian practices, each student was able to participate in three of these offerings:
Breath Prayer
Visio Divina – Visual Reflection
Silence
Art as a Spiritual Practice
Lament
Nature & Noticing
Gratitude
As we seek to equip our students, – their minds, bodies, and spirits – this week we give special attention to the soul – that which endures beyond life on earth. Like Jesus, I can think of no greater priority!
Steve O'Neil
Head of School
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