Let it Shape You, Not Break You: Turning Adversity into Greatness

Boston Trinity Academy celebrated the beginning of its 19th year when the community gathered remotely for Convocation on Wednesday afternoon. Convocation is an annual service to thank God for His past blessings and to ask His favor on the current year.

Headmaster Frank Guerra gave the call to worship, warmly welcoming and inviting the community to celebrate God's blessings and to look forward to what we will become, in spite of the "new realities" of the current situation. He pointed to the school's motto, "Via, Veritas, Vita" – The Way, the Truth, and the Life – and said this becomes our integration of faith, learning, and service, and reflects our belief that Jesus Christ is the only Way, the only Truth, and the only Life.

Following Mr. Guerra, Mr. Robert Bradley, BTA Board Chairman, offered a welcome on behalf of the Boston Trinity Board of Trustees. He also alluded to this challenging year. While the school is facing a year like no other, Mr. Bradley said, we were still gathered to worship, thank God, and seek His blessing. "BTA is a model of hope in the trying times of our nation," he said. He admonished the students to take advantage of the opportunities provided to them. "God has a plan for you," he said. "Do not waste your time here.

Head Prefect Esther Udoakang read Psalm 139:23-24: Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Reverend Sam Acevedo, Executive Director of the Boston Higher Education Resource Center (HERC) and Boston Trinity Board member, delivered the Convocation message. "We've never had a Convocation quite like this one," Reverend Acevedo began. "We're sitting here wearing masks, and most [of the attendees] are not even in the room."

Reverend Acevedo continued to address the students, "Yet we are glad to be here because we believe in your greatness. No two of you are identical, yet God has sown seeds of greatness in each of you, seeds which are waiting to bloom. Greatness requires adversity," he said. "The tough stuff brings out the great stuff, although this is not guaranteed. Sometimes adversity melts a person." He encouraged the students, however, to be prepared to turn challenges and heartbreaks into rocket fuel, "propelling you to greatness."

He gave three steps to help students accomplish this.

1) Ask God to search your heart.

"Your heart matters," Reverend Acevedo said. "Your heart is being bombarded by those who don't want you to become what God wants for you." He admonished the students "not to let just anything into your heart." Pain, he explained, can take root and become toxic in a heart. People become sidelined because they can't get past bitterness, grief, or self-pity. Pray the Psalm: Search me, O God. He told his listeners that those who aspire to greatness constantly examine their hearts. "It's up to you to do this," he said. "Philippians 4:8 says, 'Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.' "

      2) Make a covenant with God.

 Reverend Acevedo grew up hearing about those who had covenanted with God, people like Abraham, David, and Esther. Their covenants catapulted them beyond obstacles to greatness. "We will all face tough things; those things will help shape us but they don't have to break us. We get to choose how they shape us. Search me, test me, lead me... your destiny is a choice. Enter a covenant with God! Become unstoppable, unbreakable.... Become God's grand adventure!"

      3) Follow the path laid out by God.

 "Follow the path laid out for you," Reverend Acevedo encouraged. "It may lead to places you prefer not to go. The path of God is almost always the hardest, but it leads to greatness. You'll know you're on it because everyone and everything else will be telling you to go the opposite direction."

 "It's so much easier to give in to fear or despair or bitterness," he said. "See if there is any offensive way in me... lead me along the path of everlasting life... a path that is eternal.

If you do this, you will become a trailblazer and others will follow," Reverend Acevedo concluded. "Beyond whatever scares you or grieves you or breaks your heart is greatness. At BTA, we will not rest until you discover this for yourself."

 Spiritual Life Prefect Julyssa Castro concluded the service with a communal prayer, and Mrs. Kirstin Peltz and Mr. Nathan Skinner directed our thoughts to praise by playing the hymn, "Holy, Holy, Holy."