Walk with Me

"We are in an unprecedented time of walking together, both out of fear and necessity. With very little warning, our schools, churches, families and students have been thrown into a time of crisis. How do we not let this crisis go to waste? We will let this be a time when we hold one another’s hands firmly and pledge, by God’s love and grace, to keep walking each other home."

I recently listened to a podcast in which the humorous presenter was encouraging her audience with quips and strategies about coping during this time of pandemic crisis. She is a psychologist with a specific passion for educators. So much of what she said caught my attention. However, she ended her segment with a phrase that seemed to jump through the computer and land in my heart: “My friends, we are on this planet just walking each other home.” Walking each other home! What a beautiful sentiment!

As I write this article, we are eight weeks into the COVID-19 crisis, an unprecedented time of walking together, both out of fear and By Ronda Ziakris Education Director, Alberta Conference necessity; eight weeks since terms such as “social distancing,” “self-isolation,” “quarantine,” and “flatten the curve” have become part of our everyday vernacular; eight weeks since Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer, has become a household name as she gives the updates regarding how many new cases of this disease have been confirmed; eight weeks since the announcement that education could no longer take place in brick-and-mortar schools, causing the life of teachers, parents, and students to take a significant pivot unlike any other that our generation has seen or experienced. Finally, it has also been in these eight weeks that I have witnessed grace, love, resilience, and strength to the extent that I would not have believed possible.

Alberta Adventist educators had to transition from the conventional methods of education delivery to using video conferencing technology that was unfamiliar and intimidating. They were asked to continue their ministry of education in ways that were daunting. However, continue this ministry they did. Today, teachers continue to share unique lessons, inspiring worships, and heartfelt prayer sessions with their students. Schools are holding spiritually focused assemblies and Week of Prayer meetings through this same video-conferencing technology.

Teachers are committed to staying connected to their students, walking with them through this time of disruption and uncertainty. One of the main purposes of Paul writing to the Ephesians was that he expected this community of believers to walk (there’s that word again) in accordance with their heavenly calling: “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received” (Ephesians 4:1, NIV). Adventist educators, under normal circumstances, live out this calling every day in their classrooms. However, during these extraordinary times, when they have been asked to minister to their students in equally extraordinary ways, they have truly exemplified that they are indeed worthy of this calling.

The parents and students in our Adventist schools have also demonstrated a God-given

strength and patience while enduring their own disruptions during this COVID-19 crisis. I particularly want to thank the parents who continue to keep their children in our Adventist schools, many at a sacrificial cost. I am grateful that they have continued to support with their prayers and also commit to helping their children learn at home, all while balancing the demands of the health and safety of everyone.

Students continue to be engaged, despite having their learning severely disrupted and having to learn through this distance-learning classroom setting. Instructions such as “Turn on your microphone,” “Mute your microphone,” “Comment in the chat box,” and “Turn on your webcam” have become their new narrative. Sadly, our students are having to miss out on friend time, birthday parties, and playdates, just to name a few. Students, you are remarkable! We miss you, and thank you.

Rahm Emanuel, former Mayor of Chicago, is credited with the saying, “You never let a serious crisis go to waste.” Although none of us would ask for a crisis, I believe it wise for us to heed the advice this quote implies. With very little warning, our schools, churches, families, and students have been thrown into a time of crisis. How will we not let this go to waste? It is my hope and prayer that, as stated by the witty psychologist, we will let this be a time when we hold one another’s hands firmly and pledge, by God’s love and grace, to keep walking each other home.