Solid Foundation

Several years ago, I was privileged to take the senior class from Temple Christian School to England, France, and Italy for their senior trip.  Tough job, but somebody’s got to do it!!!  While we were in Italy we visited the Leaning Tower of Pisa.  The construction of the tower began in 1173. The foundation was laid but then construction halted when a war broke out with the neighboring city of Florence.  In 1180, the construction resumed, and by 1185, the first, second, and third floors were completed.  Unfortunately, construction ceased once again when another war with Florence erupted.  It was about this time that the tower began to lean to one side.

Why?  The foundation of the mammoth tower had been situated only three meters deep on a bed of dry stones and sandy ground.  Now a repair plan was needed.  In 1275, Giovanni of Simone undertook the construction of three more floors.  To compensate for the lean, the remaining columns and flooring were constructed in such a way as to minimize the appearance of the lean.  Unfortunately, this caused the tower to begin to lean in the opposite direction!  Finally, in 1284, the construction was complete.  To this day, it is in a constant state of repair and renovation due to the continual shift in the sandy foundation.

What a great spiritual lesson!!  Education MUST be firmly built on a solid foundation: The Bible.  If not, the moral values, ethics, and spirituality of students will begin to lean in one direction or another.  Oh sure, we can try to minimize the appearance of this “lean” with rhetoric,  flashy programs, brand new facilities, etc., but at the end of the day, the students will be in need of constant spiritual repair.  That’s not a chance we’re willing to take at Temple Christian School.  We want our students to grow spiritually – firmly planted on the foundation of the unshakeable and unshifting Word of God!