Dear Eagle Nation:

The Bucket List is a 2007 American buddy adventure comedy-drama film directed and produced by Rob Reiner, written by Justin Zackham, and starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. The main plot follows two terminally ill men on their road trip with a wish list of things to do before they “kick the bucket.”  If you search “bucket list” via the internet you will find customized lists for men, women, families, etc. Recently I got to check off one of my “bucket list” items – a trip to Hawaii.

My wife and I decided to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary in Hawaii. The trip did not disappoint as we enjoyed the beautiful scenery and amazing weather.  We planned an itinerary for our time on the island. We hiked, played in the ocean, ate local cuisine, and visited many attractions. This memorable trip certainly was worth the anticipation as I checked the experience off of my own bucket list.

One of the things I appreciated about the trip was that, while making our itinerary, we were careful not to overschedule our day. We allowed intentional time for quiet moments, spontaneous activities, and also time to decompress. It made the trip quite enjoyable and especially fulfilling. 

Our Heavenly Father modeled for us the importance of rest as He created the universe by taking intentional time for rest: “And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done..” Genesis 2:2 [ESV]. We are commanded to “Be still, and know that I am God…” Psalm 46:10. [ESV]  Our lives are more compact than ever before. We fill our day with agendas, entertainment, sports, lessons, etc. We must be careful to take time and space to reflect and to be renewed. 

Did you know that time and space for reflection are necessary for deep learning? Our students must have time and space in their day to think deeply. We can all learn better and improve future performance by reflecting on our own experiences, actions, reactions, and events in our lives. Dr. Tristian Stobie, Director of Education at Cambridge remarks, ”…reflection cannot be avoided. It is part of the process of how humans learn, therefore it makes sense to do it well.” As parents, we must provide time and space for our children to reflect on learning and to participate in/model that reflection with them.

I trust you will take advantage of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday to rest intentionally.  I hope you seek time and space to reflect on the goodness of God and the many blessings He has bestowed on us all. We have much for which to be thankful. 

Mahalo,

Kevin Mosley

Legacy Christian Academy is Frisco's preeminent Pre-K through 12 Christian school committed to educating students in a college preparatory environment balanced in academics, athletics, and fine arts–all within the context of a biblical worldview. For more information on Legacy, visit our admissions page.