School's Out

Since 1992 my wife and I have been taking our children to or from school, or overseeing their school activities, and encouraging them with their homework.

Today it all comes to an end as our youngest finishes at High School. Not only will he undergo the school tradition of leaving through the ceremonial doors, he will also receive his first school prize, for Engineering Technology. He certainly takes after his mum and I in his interest in engineering.

We can get used to things always being there - like the local school, the corner shop, the post office, or the church. We use them when we want to, and we ignore them when we don't need them.

But if the school, the shop, the post office, or the church, is threatened with closure, then everyone pays attention. We want these community institutions to be there so that we can use them whenever we want to.

After today, our youngest child will have to ask for permission if he wants to get into the school. Two of our nearby post offices closed down recently, causing an outcry in the community. Who knows what will be next? The well-used slogan 'use it or lose it' applies to many things, maybe even the local church too.

At times of crisis the church offers people comfort, peace, and answers to life's difficult questions. But through the church, God offers people much more for our everyday living too.

Your local church, you don't want to lose it, so use it!