Perceptions
Our perceptions in general do so much to define the quality of our lives. If we perceive every day of our lives to be a blessing, then we are far more likely to feel blessed. If, on the other hand, we see life as a struggle to be survived, our diminished expectations might obscure all manner of opportunities for celebration and joy. This same dynamic operates with the way we perceive others. If we expect those around us to do the right thing, to treat us with respect and compassion, then invariably, it seems, they do precisely that. If, however, we expect them to let us down, to act selfishly and destructively, then often they seem to live down to this.
Sometimes our perceptions of others mislead us. I heard a story once about an old Brazilian woman who crossed the border every day on a motor scooter, carrying a sack full of sand. Eventually the customs officer became suspicious and asked her what she was carrying in her sack. She replied “Only sand, sir.” He ordered her to empty the sack, whereupon he discovered she had been telling the truth, for it contained nothing but sand. This went on for over a month. Every day the woman would carry her sack of sand through the customs area, and whenever the customs officer checked it, he would find only sand. Eventually he couldn’t stand it any longer, and said to the woman “Look, I won’t say anything to the police, but please tell me, are you smuggling or not?” The woman replied truthfully “Yes I am.” “Well, what are you smuggling?” asked the official. With a broad grin the woman replied “Motor scooters.”
We tend to see what we want to see in others, and it is important that with our children in particular, we encourage and teach them to want to see only the best things in others and indeed in life in general. There are those in society who will seek to mislead our youth with distorted perceptions about life, who seek to sow the seeds of fear and mistrust, or who champion the pleasures to be had from a life that is free of all responsibilities. By constantly reinforcing standards of behaviour and expectations at All Saints, we are actually allowing our students to live in a community where it is acceptable to think the best of others, a place where we actually do not expect to be let down. This does not of course mean that we will never experience selfish or anti-social behaviour, but such occasions are the exception rather than the rule, and lapses in our agreed standards tend to stand out and demand attention.
The following quote is attributed to American sculptor Jenny Read.
““It is not more light that is needed in the world, it is more warmth. We will not die of darkness but of cold.””
She is clearly intending to highlight our need for meaningful connection and relationship with others, and one of the challenges for schools worldwide is to encourage their students to turn their back on the meanness that infects our world and choose kindness and compassion instead.
As a Christian school, however, the warmth is inseparable from the light. Without light, nothing can grow, and it is worth reflecting occasionally on the way in which the teachings of the gospels bathe our community in light and give us a sense of purpose. Peoples’ perceptions of Jesus vary enormously, and these different perceptions have caused untold wars and destruction. Yet when one cuts through the theology to reach towards the essential messages of love and hope and redemption, there seems little to disagree about. The same is true of people in general. We are all open to being misunderstood and misconceived. At times we wear masks to protect ourselves from being hurt, and such masks succeed in misleading others about the nature of our essential selves. But when one searches through the outer layers and seeks out the person within, it is always possible, I believe, to see the light of hope and love shining, however dimly.
Education is a dynamic enterprise which thrives on change. Yet one thing that must never change at All Saints is our determination to send out into the world young graduates full of light and hope who share the firm belief that they can make a difference to those around them. Their perceptions about life might thereby have an influence on others, and might also help them to lead interesting, productive and fulfilling lives.
Patrick S Wallas
Headmaster
