To me, our highest calling as human beings is to love one another, and to create communities of care and compassion.   Indeed, I have come to believe that Love actually IS God. Which in my mind is different from the over-used statement that “God is Love.” When we love another by showing consideration, kindness, generosity, gentleness, that love is not evidence of God – it is God. God in the world.

It is with this thought in mind that I take issue with the idea that “God is absent from our schools,” and that therefore heinous events should be expected in godless places – an ugly and worn-out reaction we often hear when something violent happens in a public school.

For many years my children have gone to public and non-religious independent schools. I have seen more evidence for the existence of God in these places than anywhere else in my world. God is not missing from our schools. God makes herself known every time a teacher encourages a child. God shows his face with each respectful nod and appreciative smile a child gives her teacher.   To equate God with prayer, or with the imparting of specific religious teachings is distorted and deficient. Connection, attention, support, respect, encouragement, love: all of these, and more, my children have gotten at school. Their schools have been places of love. Places where humanity’s highest calling can grow both roots and branches. Places of God.