Principal's Message | Week 5 Term One

More than Enough

I think it was the first time I visited a majority world country on an immersion, and not as a tourist, that I came to realise that in my privileged world I have more than enough. In fact, I have far more than I need. It was after spending nearly a month in Vietnam and Cambodia that I came home and was a little more than embarrassed about not just the “stuff” I owned, but the amount of stuff I had accumulated.

And, really, it is all just stuff. Did I really need three lounge suites, a separate study, cupboards full of clothes that I rarely wore, and countless other cupboards full of things that I had long forgotten we even owned?

Soon after that first trip, we sold our house, bought a humble small and unimpressive house, and we were no less happy. In fact, it was a liberating life choice. Having less provided us with more.

When we take students on immersion, we are aiming to give them an experience of how other people live, the richness of the fabric of their lives and cultures, and an appreciation for wealth that resides in places other than people’s wallets. We also hope that we promote understanding, global awareness and citizenship, and a heart that is big enough to be of service to others, in small and large ways.

It is important that we give of our material wealth to those who need our assistance. It is equally as important to give of our time, talents, and energy for others. We do so not for show or reward, but because we have more than enough – of most things. Walking in the shoes of our neighbour can be confronting and yet is also possibly life changing.

Our Lenten call is to selfless service, justice, and mercy. It is a reminder to liberate ourselves from stuff, perhaps some of which binds us and holds us back, and to give generously.

Craig Wattam

College Principal