Tough Love
The idea of a walled garden in Genesis suggests that from the very beginning, there were boundaries placed on human activity (walls) that set the context (gardens) for human exploration.
As a key adversary in the Eden story, the serpent is ‘more cunning than any other’. Its desire is for knowledge, placing a god of intellect in place of God.
Unfortunately, the lesser god won the battle in the garden, but history tells us that the overall war was won on the cross - this is the story of Easter. The consequences at Eden resulted in the fall of humans into the context of history. That seems like a tough kind of love.
It is worth noting the growing body of research pointing to the benefits that ‘tough love’ can have on young people’s resilience and character. (1)
Serpents or dragons are not always external. They can reside inside the walls of a culture - perhaps even within the walls of our own skin. At times, beguiling serpents continue to get the better of us.
It is at these times that the walls of culture can provide a steady and guiding set of principles, boundaries and, where necessary, consequences to help us humbly return God to the rightful place.
At Flinders, our hope and desire is to see our students thrive within the context of a Christian community; to provide a walled garden where we can all serve and tend. We know that firm and fair boundaries, high expectations and, at times, tough love will enable all our students to thrive and flourish.
We are reminded of the toughest kind of love, to the point of innocent death on a cross - for the sake of all humanity - this Easter weekend. It’s a continual reminder to us of the call to take up our own cross daily, and confront the serpents within and without.
May the Easter break also be a time of reflection, renewal, restoration and safety for you and your family, and all in the Flinders community.
Luke Swain
Head of Campus