THE DIGNITY OF MITIGATION
God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it. – 1 Corinthians 12:24-26
It was an absolute joy to have our campus brimming with students yesterday to kick off the school year. The energy and passion was palpable, and given our circumstances, this special day meant even more than it already does year and year out.
As you are well aware, we are adhering to rigorous mitigation measures in welcoming students for the 2020-2021 academic year. We are committed to keeping everybody safe and together, and despite the challenges faced, striving for this to be the best year yet at Berkeley Preparatory School. Our leadership continues to be advised by local, trusted medical professionals in our community, standing ready to pivot, if needed.
It has become clear that physical distancing and masking up both help curb the spread of COVID-19. I also know these practices can be a nuisance and source of frustration. As human creatures, we long for nearness and the comfort of touch. And, a mask is uncomfortable, hot, and bothersome. But, if that’s what it takes to keep us safe and together, I am all in. Of course, this is but a small inconvenience when in-person education is at stake. Keeping distance and wearing a mask are clear signals that we care about the health of others, and by extension, everyone in their circles.
A colleague recently acknowledged this responsibility from a citizenship perspective. As citizens of Berkeley, Tampa Bay, and beyond, we have a duty to do our part to protect each other. The common good and well-being of our community requires us to take these citizenship measures seriously.
These mitigation measures can also signal an additional truth.
As Chaplain, I have doing a lot of thinking and praying about the spiritual ramifications of these measures, wondering how to understand them from a soul perspective.
In addition to staying healthy and being dutiful citizens, the word dignity comes to mind.
As an Episcopal school, Berkeley is rooted in a tradition that “strives for peace and justice among all people, respecting the dignity of every human being.” With this commitment at the heart of our Episcopal identity, we vow to bring people and communities to wholeness; to see each person as a beloved child of God - worthy of the inherent respect bestowed upon them in creation. This obligation is essential at this critical juncture of our life together.
The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Michael Curry, made a plea for understanding the mask as a sign of love for one another; a call to see others through the eyes of God. In doing so, the nuisance and frustration of physical distancing and masking up may begin to fade - as respect, care, and love for one another emerges.
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It was an absolute joy to have our campus brimming with students yesterday to kick off the school year. The energy and passion was palpable, and given our circumstances, this special day meant even more than it already does year and year out.
As you are well aware, we are adhering to rigorous mitigation measures in welcoming students for the 2020-2021 academic year. We are committed to keeping everybody safe and together, and despite the challenges faced, striving for this to be the best year yet at Berkeley Preparatory School. Our leadership continues to be advised by local, trusted medical professionals in our community, standing ready to pivot, if needed.
It has become clear that physical distancing and masking up both help curb the spread of COVID-19. I also know these practices can be a nuisance and source of frustration. As human creatures, we long for nearness and the comfort of touch. And, a mask is uncomfortable, hot, and bothersome. But, if that’s what it takes to keep us safe and together, I am all in. Of course, this is but a small inconvenience when in-person education is at stake. Keeping distance and wearing a mask are clear signals that we care about the health of others, and by extension, everyone in their circles.
A colleague recently acknowledged this responsibility from a citizenship perspective. As citizens of Berkeley, Tampa Bay, and beyond, we have a duty to do our part to protect each other. The common good and well-being of our community requires us to take these citizenship measures seriously.
These mitigation measures can also signal an additional truth.
As Chaplain, I have doing a lot of thinking and praying about the spiritual ramifications of these measures, wondering how to understand them from a soul perspective.
In addition to staying healthy and being dutiful citizens, the word dignity comes to mind.
As an Episcopal school, Berkeley is rooted in a tradition that “strives for peace and justice among all people, respecting the dignity of every human being.” With this commitment at the heart of our Episcopal identity, we vow to bring people and communities to wholeness; to see each person as a beloved child of God - worthy of the inherent respect bestowed upon them in creation. This obligation is essential at this critical juncture of our life together.
The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Michael Curry, made a plea for understanding the mask as a sign of love for one another; a call to see others through the eyes of God. In doing so, the nuisance and frustration of physical distancing and masking up may begin to fade - as respect, care, and love for one another emerges.
Berkeley Preparatory School
Founded in 1960, Berkeley is an independent, Episcopal, college-preparatory day school located in Tampa, FL, for boys and girls in grades Pre-Kindergarten through 12. Approximately 1,400 students gather here from the greater Tampa Bay area to form ONE Berkeley.