Dear Hill Country Families,

Tomorrow marks the 25th anniversary of 9/11. If you are like me, you can remember with crystal clarity where you were and what you were doing on that fall morning.

I may be overthinking (and thus overstating) this, but in my estimation, 9/11 should rank as the next-most patriotic day here in America, second only to the Fourth of July. The Fourth marks the day we drew a line in the sand and declared our independence some 250 years ago. And 9/11 marks a day 225 years later, when that independence was challenged here at home.

Before going any further, we should pause to remember and honor the nearly 3,000 lives lost that day—the men and women who went to work at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and never returned home; the firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and other first responders who ran toward danger to save people they had never met; and the passengers and crew of United Flight 93, ordinary Americans whose extraordinary courage in the skies over Pennsylvania prevented an even greater tragedy.

We remember them with gratitude and solemn respect. We remember the families whose lives were forever changed in a matter of hours. And 25 years later, we honor the courage, sacrifice, and selflessness displayed on one of the darkest days in our nation’s history.

There are multiple angles I could cover regarding such an event. I could talk about the valiant men and women who gave their lives in service, or the many who lost loved ones that day, as mentioned above. These are worthy of time, respect, and honor. But today I want to focus on a different tack that I think is equally as important, though maybe not the first thing that comes to mind.

Without whacking too much of a hornet’s nest, I would assert that at its root, 9/11 represented a clash of two religious worldviews. I will not, at least today, dive into an in-depth apologetic for one of those religions over the other. But all of you know where I land. I’m firmly a Christian and make no apologies for that. Instead, I would like to speak to a conviction that has recently begun to weigh on me: I take the religious freedom I have for granted.

Two hundred and fifty years ago, our Founding Fathers set out to create the world’s first truly free country, and at the center of that freedom was a freedom to practice religion without interference from the governing authorities. For reference, here is the First Amendment:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

I think it is very safe to say that Hill Country Christian School would not exist without the First Amendment.

In fact, I recently visited with a friend who was part of a team trying to start a classical Christian school in the UK. He found it nearly impossible because of the government red tape. Suppose he wanted to start a classical private school—no problem. But to start a Christian school, no can do.

In addition, I had a missionary friend in Tunisia. He was starting an underground Christian school for kids to attend. His family had to live behind gated bars. He lived in fear every day that he was going to be arrested—or worse—just for trying to give kids a Christian education.

Likewise, a family from Venezuela who enrolled in my school in Washington had to flee their home and their families, in the middle of the night, because the powers that be discovered their kids attended a Catholic school.

Here is my confession. I cannot relate to these stories at all, which has me thinking that I take this freedom for granted way too much. I take for granted that I’ve been able to serve thousands of children through a Christian education over the last 23 years, and that those children are going to be future Christian education freedom warriors with all of us. I take for granted that my own five children have only known a Christian education and never had to fear attending school where they learned about Jesus. I take for granted that I can attend church every Sunday without fear of retribution.

When I think about 250 years of religious freedom, and then 25 years since our resolve was tested, I’m humbled. I’m grateful. But I’m vigilant. I know that not everyone wants freedom of religion in the same way that I want freedom of religion.

Join me today in giving thanks to God for the freedom to practice our faith that we have been afforded here in America. And join me in thanking God that our children can come to a school where they can learn about Jesus every day. This is truly a gift and one that I don’t want to take for granted.

To God be the glory,

Eric DeVries, Head of School and High School Principal