We are immersed in communication that can have us believe that if only we earned and spent enough money, ate the right things, exercised the right amount, learned the right emotional management techniques, mixed with the right people, engaged in ongoing learning and worked hard enough on our faith that ongoing happiness would be ours. The theme being, that if we tried hard enough, perfection would be within our reach. The beauty of our humanity is that no one is perfect and it is often through our imperfections that strength, compassion and character can grow. Rather like the Japanese art of Kintsugi, where broken cups are repaired with gold to create beauty and purpose, beauty and purpose can be created in our lives by accepting and growing through brokenness. Everyone has imperfections that can either become an excuse for inaction or something we accept as an integral part of who we are or where we. These imperfections are burdens we can grow through.
We often want to wish or pray our burdens away or have someone else carry them. There are times where this can happen and we can celebrate, but we also need to learn to grow through the burdens that life brings. Parents, family, friends and partners can want to rescue those they love from carrying burdens rather than guide and support the carrying and enable important growth to occur. Within the Bible we hear the encouragement of how to deal with our burdens. “Pick up your cross and follow Me.” Within this powerful statement we see God acknowledging that there will be tough stuff in our lives that we need to each learn to carry. Our lives will not be perfect, but we do not journey alone. By following Jesus and keeping our eyes firmly fixed on Him, we can grow in our journeying and find purpose as we carry our own individual crosses. As we approach Easter, we are reminded of the good news that Jesus is accompanying us on the journey, having already carried the Cross for each of us.
Over the past week we have celebrated Pacific As A Peace Place and Harmony Day. Within both of these days there was the encouragement to value the richness and diversity of people. Within their pastoral care groups, the Year 7-12 students wrote messages on paper and then folded these pieces into paper cranes. The cranes, which are now hanging in our library, act as an encouragement for all of us to think of the ways in which we can create peaceful and safe relationships around us. Later this year on the biennial Japanese trip, our senior students will place the cranes at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial. The colour and excitement that flowed from our Prep to Year 5 students as they came to school in multicultural dress, highlighted the richness that has come into the Australian culture through people 
coming from Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas. Our Middle and Senior College community enjoyed culinary delights produced by our Year 10 students as they ran a ‘Hawker’s Market’ for staff and students in the morning tea break. There was a powerful reminder of how much we benefit from foods and flavours brought by people from around the world. We thank Miss Kim Stone and the pastoral team for their leadership of the Pacific As A Peace Place activities, Mrs Jo Bailey for her initiative and planning of Harmony Day and our Year 10 students and the Hospitality staff for the very tasty food experience they provided. Thank you to all staff, students and parents who made these experiences powerful and enjoyable learning opportunities.
Author, Lynette Noni, will be launching her new book Draekora, the third in the Medoran Chronicles, next Tuesday 28th March. The launch will be held at Collins Bookstore on Bulcock Street, Caloundra, commencing from 5.00pm. Lynette will be one of our visiting authors this year and has a strong fan base amongst our students already. Any one interested is invited to attend.
Pacific Soccer App
