Grade 12 at Muskoka Woods

Grade 12 students are off to Muskoka Woods for a three-day retreat!

Before they left on Wednesday morning, spiritual life director Mr. Park led them in opening devotions.

He based his talk on Colossians 13:

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Mr. Park, who is a also a teacher of drama and English literature, said Paul is using a clothing metaphor, similar to the clothing metaphor used by Shakespeare in the Tragedy of MacBeth, in which Macbeth is described as being “a dwarf in giant’s clothes.”

The ill-fitting clothing in MacBeth is used to depict a struggle with the consequences of one’s actions, but in contrast, Paul urges his readers to put on someone else’s clothing that will fit well. “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience,” he said. “We are allowed to put on Christ. It fits.”

Mr. Park said we have to get dressed every day and in the same way we need to put on Christ every day.

“We are going to be in close quarters for three days,” he said. “There’s going to be some rubbing of elbows, and it doesn’t take long for your true character to come out.”

That’s why, even with our best friends, we must “bear with each other and forgive one another,” he said.

“Please look at these three days as an amazing gift from God,” he said, “that God has rolled up to your life, right up to your front door. It’s going to be great, it’s going to be awesome.

“There is going to be something in it for you, so grab hold of it and recognize that God is in it.”

While they are on the retreat, students will be climbing, ziplining, cycling, golfing, canoeing, hiking and more!

God bless all the students and leaders. We are praying you're having a wonderful time.