It’s the end of Term 3, and the chaplain feels old, tired, and just a little cranky. The exhaustion is not mine alone; students and staff are running on empty. Patience is thin, words are less measured, and focus… well, let’s not talk about focus.
Amid this weariness, I find myself clinging to Scripture, not just for comfort, but for direction. As the chaplain, I’m called to keep pointing to the gospel, even when I feel I have nothing to give. This passage from 1 Peter has been my anchor:
The end of all things is near. Therefore, be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
- 1 Peter 4:7–10
These words remind me that every encounter matters. We don’t know if we’ll get another chance. So I must stay alert, even when I’m tired. I must remain sober-minded even when I want to overreact. I must choose love because love shifts my focus from problems to people, from frustration to grace.
Hospitality, too, is a choice. It means opening my heart, mind, and hands to others. It means making space for conversation, even when I’d rather retreat. And it means using the gifts God has given me—not for my own comfort, but to serve others faithfully.
One of the ways I stay grounded is by being militant about having a regular quiet time. A space to think, feel, read my Bible, and whinge to God away from the noise of work. And I know I’m not alone in this experience.
Many parents share the weariness of this cranky chaplain. To be a Christian parent is to carve out a quiet time, a place to sober up, to remember those you love, and the One who loves you. It’s a space to open your heart again, pray, and ask God for His Spirit so that you can live beyond your own capacity and into His. Mums and dads, do you have a quiet time? If not, do it. Carve out the time. It matters.
This isn’t just about Year 12 students leaving Thomas Hassall. This is about everyone. As a Christian, I believe Jesus will return. Each day that passes brings us closer to that moment. So, I want to live like it matters, because it does.