08/31/2022 Principal's Note

By -
Making decisions can be exhausting. Have you ever stopped and tried to count all the decisions you make each day? What time to get up, what to have for breakfast, how much coffee do you REALLY need to make/drink (the answer is always more than you think), which clothes to wear, who gets to use the shower first, which clothes your kids will wear, what the kids will have for breakfast, who is going to feed the dog, what time you need to leave so you aren't late, who is driving, which child sits where in the car...and all before you even leave for the day! 

Maybe your job is full of decision-making responsibilities too; I know how that goes. Whether you view the decisions you make as small and insignificant, earth-shatteringly important, or somewhere in between, they add up quickly. Constantly having to make decisions can be exhausting; don't take my word for it, check this out. Experts don't necessarily agree on it yet, but they are studying "decision fatigue" as a real psychological issue. I know that, as your principal, there are certainly times when I feel drained from making multiple decisions, especially if they come one right after the other and are high-stakes.

Aren't you glad that your status as a redeemed child of God isn't up to a decision on your part? As confessional Lutherans, we teach that salvation is a gift from God, freely given. Think of it like a present: you don't need to decide that the present is yours, it's already been paid for and given to you. You can reject it, certainly, but saying you accept it doesn't change the fact that it's already yours. Or think of it like the writer of Psalm 95 puts it: "...we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care" (Psalm 95:7, NIV 2011). We are compared to sheep a number of times in the Bible, and sheep don't have a lot of decisions to make. They simply go where they are led, enjoy the grass and water, and assume the shepherd will take care of things. We can have that same confidence in our Savior's work.

Keep making your decisions; they are important, for you and for others. But, when it comes to your salvation, bask in the bliss of having it all figured out already. Take some time to simply be a sheep and enjoy the blessings from our loving God.

Have a wonderful Wednesday and beyond!

In Christ,

Principal Bill Fuerstenau