What's Happening To Our World?

If ever we were sure that the world we live in will always be the same, 2011 has provided some interesting insights to challenge us.

Devestating climatic activities, flood across most of our country, cyclones and fires in WA and similar events across the world pose the question: how do we cope with change?

People power uprisings for political change right across the Arab world including such places as Libya where the thought of such being possible was previously unheard of, poses the same question: how will we cope with a world that will be a very different one than that which we lived up until the end of 2010?

For us in the West the questions strike at our world view, our understanding of what is right and wrong, of where the foundations for our beliefs and practice are found. As the world becomes more multi-cultural through immigration, the arrival of refugees and the ease of travel, new ideas, beliefs and practices will live alongside, and at some tome, in some places, overshadow that which we took for granted.

Things like our religion, our belief system, our values and our way of life will, and if we are honest, have been challenged by these changes. This is inevitable, it is apart of living in an ever changing world. Yet, it is not that it is happening that matters most, as Tom Waits sings, "You can't hold back time", what matters most is how we respond to it.

Do we respond by emphasising our differences and walling up our fortresses to keep the changes out or do we embrace the challenge to be open to diversity, to listen to voices different to ours, to engage in dialogue with others looking for similarities and the space-in-between where we share our humanity?

It begins with us. Thomas Merton suggested that there will be no world peace unless each of us is at peace with ourselves and share that peace with another. It begins with us and fear is our enemy. We over come fear by facing it though engagement and dialogue, firstly within ourselves and the in the world.

New Beginnings In the Chapel

New beginnings was our theme for the first two weeks of school chapel services. In that time, that is exactly what has occurred in the chapel itself. It has had a new beginning.

A new sound system, a change in the lay out of the chapel itself and the unveiling of a very new look to the old stage are. This space is now a special 'retreat' for students and staff alike, offering quite music, comfortable (red) chairs, coffee tables and mood lighting.

It is hoped to add to this space with plants, board games, jigsaw puzzles and books (donations gratefully received) over the next few weeks to further add to the options available to all students who are looking for alternative things to do at break time.

We are looking for a name for the new stage space and have invited students to make suggestions for which the winning suggestion will win its creator a serious prize.

If you are in the school, make time to pop in. It's worth a look.

Let Your Light Shine

14th February is the day for all in love, who wish to be in love or have been in love. Valentine's Day remind us of the importance of those special people in our lives. Red roses, chocolates and champagne accompany romantic dinners for 2.

Yet February 14 is also the beginning of Random Acts of Kindness Week. You know, those little things we do for others and others do for us that we don't have to do but do. Open the car door, smile, say hello, let someone go before you in the queue at the checkout counter, tidy your room and more.

The stuff we take for granted, but shouldn't.

Well, in the week of the 14th we are asked to be mindful of doing Random (Unexpected) Acts of Kindness for others. The challenge is to do so without expecting any one to notice or to applaud you. As a well known brand says, 'Just do it'.

Our school motto from Matthew 5 is 'Let your light shine'. Random Acts of Kindness is that in action.

For more information go here: www.randomactsofkindness.org

New Beginnings

Back to school is a time of new beginnings. This week in chapel we have been looking at the idea of beginning again in light of the tragic floods which have been experienced across our country. The question is, how do we start again when something completely unimagined breaks in upon our lives? Events such as natural disasters, unexpected illness, relationship breakdowns and more come upon us in ways which leave us a little unbalanced and out of shape.

Yet we have to keep on going, finding ways to rebalance our lives and begin again.

We do so when we understand that we are not alone, that others, God included, share our pain and disruption and that we begin again by concentrating on what needs to be done now. It is about being mindful that all journeys begin with one step following after the other, and that the step we take now is the step that matters.

We can not remake the past nor can we manufacture the future. All we can do is live this moment now to the best of our ability, not worrying about outcomes, just about staying in the game. We will stumble and sometimes fall, but as long as we get up we have hope, develop courage and grow character.

New beginnings? No big deal. It's all about staying in the game called life and if we play it all the way to the end we come out on top.