I found myself gazing at the Pacific Ocean horizon last Sabbath morning as I tried a new hiking trail near our home.
The Central Coast really doesn’t have mountains as such, but some of the hills that are on the map, are deemed that way, and do have some steep sections for the enthusiastic hiker to scramble up; that then in turn offer some wonderful views of our coastline.
There is something heavenly about the early morning in the Australian bush when all you hear is nature. No traffic, no people, just nature commencing a new day. The sunrise may be silent in its appearance, but its impact is far from quiet.
The sound of scurrying animals in the undergrowth, the calls of numerous birds in the trees and for me, the distant crash of waves hitting the shore. They all amalgamate into a sound that is soothing, enticing and full of promise. To me, these sounds are the sounds of possibility: of a new day, of a fresh start and a new adventure.
This is my last newsletter, my last opportunity, to share with you all.
It has been a blast.
Time has gone so fast and just a little pause and glance over the shoulder gives us a glimpse of all that we have journeyed through and achieved together. There is much that I can say, there are many thoughts running through my mind of what I can leave as my closing thought with you, but at the forefront is one word: Opportunity.
Opportunity for us all to continue being ‘be the Bridge’.
Opportunity for us all to intentionally be a part of, not apart from, the communities in which we live.
Opportunity to actively connect those communities to Christ: one heart at a time.
Opportunity to personally be ambassadors for Heaven.
Opportunity to daily be His hands and feet.
Opportunity to ensure our words and actions match: to be truly authentic.
Opportunity to look enthusiastically over the horizon; to actively seek new adventures in learning and leadership.
Opportunity to aspire, to pursue and to find meaning.
Opportunity though requires a choice. A choice to engage, to adapt, to change, to grasp and to respond to what is before us. Often opportunity is missed because it looks like hard work, it asks us to become uncomfortable and it challenges us to change views, behaviours and attitudes.
‘For a time such as this’ as Esther experienced, is opportunity of the highest order. World changing in fact. She lived out what opportunity can do.
If you pause and truly ask yourself what opportunity lies before you today, if you are honest with yourself, you will know. God will impress upon you what opportunity stands awaiting your choice.
It may be in your personal life, your work life, friendships, faith; or a combination of them all. That is the beauty of opportunity, it is everywhere around us, if we just take the time to notice it, consider it, choose it.
Today, I cease being an employee of NNSW and my career in Adventist Education comes to a close, what was, is no longer; BUT what is yet to be, well, it’s over the horizon, waiting for me.
I can’t see it, but I do believe it is there. I know it is there.
Time to choose.
Opportunity.
This word of encouragement for Christian educators was written by Dean Bennetts, and distributed in The Bridge newsletter in 2023. Dean is the CEO of Adventist Education in North New South Wales, Australia.
