Potential energy

Today we had the farewell day for the school. It’s basically a graduation ceremony for those who have completed 10^th grade. Most of these students will go on to attend school somewhere else to finish 11^th and 12^th grade. As we were sitting through the ceremony it struck me how different these students really are from the others in their communities and how much potential energy they possess. These students have struggled to make it through 11 years of quality education whereas many Indian children never get such an opportunity. Students are sifted out throughout their time at the school but these students have made it to the top. They’re the cream of the crop. These students come from poor village families who are struggling, literally by the sweat of their brow, to put their children through this great education, hopefully making way for a better future. These students live in communities where violent acts, corruption and injustices are part of everyday life. Yet, they have a chance to change and a chance to change those around them. So much potential is stored up in these students, potential to be role models for the young ones around them, potential to attain good jobs, potential to be exemplary citizens in their villages, and potential to be lights unto the world. In fact the school’s theme is “Light through letters.” Hopefully a light has not just been revealed to them in their education but THE light has been revealed to them. Over the 11 years in which most of them have attended the school they have heard about Jesus and the many stories about Him. Some of them have trusted in Him. Hopefully this is the light that they will carry with them as they go out into their communities. Only through HIM can this society and the world truly change.