“Happiness
is not found within us, but rather between us. “
It was a thrill last week Thursday to join 1000
Christian Educators in Ancaster. LCES staff were inspired as we sang, prayed,
and connected with provincial colleagues. We were challenged by some research
underway about relationships by Dr Robert Loe.
The quote above is his. Depending on
self-help books, mindfulness to find your inner “you”, and other such
activities is not the route to happiness he proposed. His interesting research
of measuring relationships in organizations indicate that people flourish when
strong connecting relationships exist. The most vulnerable are taken care of
best in communities were connecting relationships are strongest. He presented
some “threats” to relationship health in our culture and context. Bees in a bee
hive with unique but connected roles was offered as a visual to ponder. The
hive thrives when relationships between the bees is healthy.
Relationship is the foundation of learning.
Jesus showed us this in the way in which he announced a new covenant and the
coming kingdom. He lived and taught in an intensely relational setting with his
disciples. Can you imagine the talking on long walks, meal time conversations, and lingering campfire debates?
LCES staff are grateful for the chance to
have been able to step away to contemplate what learning looks like in 2019.
It’s great to be back in the hive at LCES today.
SJ
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