In Proverbs 6:6-8, Scripture tells us, “Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.” Here we are in the middle of June and school has been out for two weeks. One would think that school is a lifeless place during this time of year, but you might be surprised at the amount of hard work and activity that is running throughout our campus.
Coaches Pondo, Sanders, and Gaines have enjoyed daily four-hour workouts with hardworking students each day. Many of these same student-athletes walk from the football field and run directly to the gym where they have often been seen there eating lunch before they go into the gym for their second workout of the day in basketball with Coach Rhodes. Both the football and basketball workouts have been well attended each day.
There is an eagerness among coaches and players alike as Coach Rhodes has often started a countdown clock 90 minutes early to signal the start of practice and unbelievably there are already enough players at the gym waiting on practice to start. Many of these players had already completed individual workouts earlier in the morning before coming to the gym. These young men, though, had to wait for the young ladies to finish their morning workouts with Crystal Rhodes. While Mrs. Rhodes is working, Mr. Rhodes has been filling the morning conducting interviews for sports that will not start until four months in the future.
Similarly, in the building other staff are busily preparing for next year. Principal Rhonda Brown has been putting the finishing touches on a summer math remediation program, preparing professional development for new Readers and Writers Workshop and organizing an after school enrichment program (details are forthcoming) for next year. Greg Lineberger has been meeting with students and planning summer remediation and adjusting schedules for students. Adam Hamilton has been planning a full slate of Chapel services for next year based upon a partnership that we have established with Radical which is led by IMB President David Platt. Billy Hutchinson has been developing online courses in our new learning management system for teachers and students that will be ready before the first day of school. Laney Corbett has begun developing lessons to turn her classroom into a blended classroom with a face-to-face environment and online components. The list goes on with countless others who are at home or who are taking well-earned vacations before beginning a work of summer preparation.
Psalm 90:12 says “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Many people do not value each day and likewise do not fill it with the work that God has called them to do. I would not say that this is the case with the students, faculty and staff of Hickory Grove Christian School who have been busy preparing for next year. God calls us all to work heartily as unto the Lord. I encourage you to be about God's work each day this summer and realize that our days are numbered. Let us work hard and serve the Lord faithfully each day. Enjoy your summer!
