Guideposts on the Footpath to Peace

To be glad of life, because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars; to be satisfied with your possessions, but not contented with yourself until you have made the best of them; to despise nothing in the world except falsehood and meanness, and to fear nothing except cowardice; to be governed by your admirations rather than by your disgusts; to covet nothing that is your neighbor’s except his kindness of heart and gentleness of manners; to think seldom of your enemies, often of your friends, and every day of Christ; and to spend as much time as you can, with body and with spirit, in God’s out-of-doors — these are little guideposts on the footpath to peace.

Henry Van Dyke, Presbyterian minister and American writer, wrote these words in the early twentieth century, and they resonate with three Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) schools on Colorado’s Western Slope in the United States.

Sandy Hodgson, RMC education assistant director, says, “The sunbaked landscape may be rugged, but the serene spirit of the land seems to inspire these schools. Our schools in Grand Junction and Cortez, Colorado, and Farmington, New Mexico, embody resilience, strength, and an aura of peace.”

Intermountain Adventist Academy (IAA) in Grand Junction, Colorado, with 35 students and under the leadership of Jeff Jackson, thrives on community and collaboration. The staff often works across grade levels, blending the strengths of each teacher to create a rich, supportive learning environment.

At a recent Town Hall meeting, IAA teacher Andrea Jackson was inspired by a report on the renovation project that RMC is undertaking at Glacier View Ranch youth camp in Ward, Colorado, particularly its commitment to inclusivity. She guided her high school math students in developing plans to improve accessibility, encouraging them to apply math skills in ways that mirror Van Dyke’s ideals of service and thoughtful improvement. Students learn to take ownership of their learning, not only for personal achievement but also as a way to serve others.

Cortez Adventist Christian School, with 24 students, is a vibrant, close-knit community led by Deedee Franklin and Teresa Quillan, who have fostered a systematic, wholistic approach to learning over many years. Embracing Van Dyke’s idea of striving to improve, Deedee and Teresa are dedicated to giving students a strong academic and spiritual foundation. The Unlocking the Code reading program has become central to this goal. Here, students are taught to approach their studies with reverence and diligence, finding joy and satisfaction in learning each new word, fact, or idea.

RMC’s smallest school on the Western Slope is Discover Christian School in Farmington, New Mexico, where Jean Rose Manuop has recently joined as the teacher for the one-room school. Jean Rose, newly arrived from the Philippines, brings a fresh perspective, eagerly learning from and contributing to the Farmington community.

During a visit from representatives of the RMC Office of Education, the school’s students were engrossed in worship with Messiah’s Mansion, a sanctuary replica that is set up at various venues to enable visitors to experience the Bible sanctuary in full scale. Each day’s worship centered on new truths about Christ’s mission, reflecting Van Dyke’s encouragement to seek peace and purpose through faith. In the simplicity of the one-room setting, students at Discover Christian School are finding the profound joy of God’s presence and the beauty of a life dedicated to learning and spiritual growth.

“Our visit to each of these schools,” RMC education superintendent Diane Harris says, “reveals educators [who] exemplify kindness, gentleness, and Christlike leadership. Each one demonstrates a commitment to providing guideposts that will help their students become who God has created them to be.”

The original version of this story was posted on the Rocky Mountain Conference news site.