Head of School Blog: A Tree Gives Glory to God by Being A Tree

You give glory to God by being you. Despite the messages of social media and consumerism, our faith tells us that we are loved and enough just the way we are. Thomas Merton, a mystic and theologian, said, “A tree gives glory to God by being a tree”, and calls our identity in God, “enoughness.”

In a Sacred Heart school, we are called to educate to a personal and active faith in God by nurturing the spiritual lives of our members through the exploration of one’s relationship to God, to self, to others and to creation. (Goal 1, criteria 7).

I am constantly amazed at the unique gifts and talents of each of our students. At Duchesne, individuality is not only embraced but it is celebrated.  St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, founder of the Society of the Sacred Heart, created an environment in her first schools that celebrated the unique gifts of all students. We proudly carry on that legacy today.

In the eyes of God, you are good enough. You possess qualities that make you special and valuable. Comparing yourself to others only diminishes your self-worth and prevents you from fully appreciating your own abilities—or worse, makes you feel superior. It's time to let go of the need for validation from others and recognize that you have inherent worth just as you are. BE-YOU-TIFUL!

Imagine a forest where every tree looks the same, each one mirroring the other instead of loving its own unique beauty. The forest would lose its majesty, and the ecosystem that thrives on the diversity of the trees would struggle to survive. That's why it's so important for each of us to embrace our individuality, glorifying God by being the unique 'tree' God created us to be.