Remote learning: Singing The Lord's Song In a Foreign Land

It's surprising how quickly a scene like this one, taken last December, seems to be a time and place that feels odd to us today as our school remains active, but not our building remains closed. Clearly we were socially connected then, and not too physically distant from each other. I can remember the sounds of  this Christmas lunch merriment, with all those students, teachers and parents in the gym. That was a fun day.

In Psalm 137:4, we read “How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land?” The Psalmist was lamenting that he was no longer living in the promised land, but rather struggling in captivity under the Babylonian empire.

While the bricks and mortar of our building have not moved, we do find ourselves taken away to a foreign, new land of remote learning. There has been lament and loss, however we also have seen new beginnings and opportunities this week. God is good. We will return to the land of familiar classrooms, playground adventures, chapels, and in-person conversations and, something I really miss, groups of students laughing and singing.

Meanwhile, we will aim to be faithful “singing the Lord’s song in a "foreign land.”

SJ