Knightly News

A Pastoral Letter from the Rev. Kirkland "Skully" Knight, Chaplain

Exactly four years ago, we were dealing with what was perhaps the greatest natural disaster this school has ever seen, The Flood of 2016. If you were here at Episcopal or even just in Baton Rouge, you remember those days. They were some of the darkest days that I can remember in my ten years here, but they were quickly followed by some of the greatest days I have experienced anywhere.
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Our school, though partially under water, closed for only five days, and then reopened with classes in new places, people helping cover when others were out, and work already beginning to repair the damage.

People opened their homes, distributed meals, gutted houses and supported each other in ways that made us all so proud to be Knights. I had only been here a few years at that point, but I knew this was the right place for my family and me to be and for our children to grow and learn. I have never been more proud to be part of a place than I was then.

It's time for that spirit again.

It has been another challenging start to the school year. It has been filled with ups and downs, excitement and disappointment, joy and frustration, and some things and feelings that are so unique to these particular days that they defy description. But as in 2016, the sun will set, and the sun will rise and there will be a new day. That is a promise.

This upcoming Sunday, the lectionary readings for many churches includes Romans 12. 1-8.  And in that passage is the phrase, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” To live and love sacrificially is one of, if not the most basic Christian tenet that there is.

We are called to set aside our own needs and desires for the good of others, to put the greater good ahead of what might be best for us individually. We are called to be inconvenienced. We are called to lay down our lives for others. We are called to sacrifice.

It's time for that spirit again.

There is some research that says wearing masks and social distancing does more to prevent that person from spreading this virus than it does to prevent that person from getting it. And if we follow that logic, everyone who comes to this campus is coming with the intention of caring for others. How powerful is the image of a place where for every person, there are 999 other people protecting them? I would take that every day over a place where there are a 1,000 people only watching out for themselves.

We have done this before. We have given up comfort to help those in need. We have given our time and energy expecting nothing in return. We have been patient and understanding. We have been willing to make sacrifices and put the needs of this community ahead of our own. We have lived and loved sacrificially. We have done these things because we are Episcopal Knights.  

It's time for that spirit again.

The Rev. Kirkland "Skully" Knight

The Rev. Kirkland “Skully” Knight has served in Episcopal schools for more than 25 years as a teacher, coach and chaplain. Skully has been at the Episcopal School of Baton Rouge since 2011 and serves as the Senior Chaplain and Associate Head of School for Service Learning. Skully earned his bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and his M. Div. from The University of the South at Sewanee. He has been married to his wife, Mary Sue, for 26 years and they have two daughters, Emily a  2018 graduate and Katie who is a senior.

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