As I pen this article, Canada’s Prime Minister has just announced his resignation while a leader of the country just south of us is quipping about economic sanctions as a means to annex ours, as well as military force to seize control of main shipping routes and other strategic regions. Military and political conflict in Ukraine, Gaza, and South Korea add to the unrest. Just a week ago, we ushered in a new year, expressing hope for the coming months. How, at this time in history, can we build resilience, as recommended by Christian Schools Canada (CSC)’s “Called Connected Committed” leadership framework?
The “Called, Connected, Committed” document defines ‘Building Resilience’ as “the ability to withstand, adapt to, and recover from adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, and stress”, and asserts that “as Christian school leaders, we incorporate practices into our lives to strengthen our individual and institutional faith walk.” Using the document as our guide in discussion, school leaders in the Niagara Peninsula cohort recently took a deeper dive into this topic to discover what this means in our practice, in our region, and at a time such as this. Had we used the examples we see in the news, one might think that building resilience would mean a more significant posture of power would be in order.
“In what circumstances, as a leader, have I shown resilience? What insights can I take from that to bring to other difficult circumstances I may face?”[1] The responses to these questions in our discussion did not disappoint, giving an alternative, more Biblical understanding of what resilience looks like. Our stories and anecdotes included lived-out examples of humility, wise perspective, support of others, community, strength in vulnerability and authenticity, shared burdens, and experiences of spiritual and emotional valleys that accentuated mountain-tops later. Resilience was not embodied in our experience of power against or over adversity but in fear-defying hope for the future.
While 2025 has barely begun, it’s easy amidst the news to lose sight of the Christmas story we just celebrated, where hope took on flesh in vulnerable form. I quickly forget that God’s example of resilience is radically counter-cultural.
The challenges of Christian school leadership may seem dwarfed by the tensions and unrest we see in the world, but they can carry adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, and stress in measure, especially when it demands so much from us. Being called, connected, and committed to the project of leading our Christian learning communities requires a deep spiritual, emotional, social, and time commitment. We are ‘all in,’ and as a result, can get swallowed up to our detriment. We need each other (and, in my case, I need my cohort!) to walk alongside and to encourage us back to stories of humility, community, support, vulnerability, authenticity, and hope.
Tod Bolsinger reminds us to “Find other calm, courageous people and strengthen and support them. As you see them begin to grow and change, it will inspire you to stay on course, also.”[2] As you lead your school communities into 2025, I pray you can take these words and practices as challenge and inspiration toward a beautiful, resilient, counter-cultural hope.
Kevin Huinink is the Niagara Peninsula Cohort Leader for Edvance, and Executive Director of Cairn Christian School.
[1] Called Connected Committed, page 35
[2] https://bolsinger.blogs.com/weblog/good-disappointing-leadership/