From the Chaplain
Great Southern Grammar
We had a Chapel service on Monday for the Middle School students, with the theme of ‘fear’. Volunteers were asked to come up to participate in a ‘fear’ game. They had to pick one of the horrid trick jellybeans and eat it. These appear as a normal pack of colourful jellybeans. However, the yellow jellybean for instance is either a buttered popcorn flavour or a rotten egg flavour. I think only two out of the six students got a nice flavour and the others were gagging and trying to spit them out on a tissue. They all got a nice tasting Kit Kat for their efforts.
Obviously, this was a silly game to represent fear (will I get a good bean or a bad one) as we all have fears that are bigger than this. Before the service I asked some students (about 10 in each year group) what they are fearful about. I gave them a list of 10 and they could pick up to 3 things on the list. Here are the results:
NB. Family issues (divorce, money problems, illness, violence) and nomophobia means not having your mobile phone.
As the results show, many MS student’s fear public speaking or not having anyone to hang out with at school.
One of the bible verses that was read out:
Do not be afraid—I am with you! I am your God—let nothing terrify you!
I will make you strong and help you. I will protect you and save you. Isaiah 41: 9b-10
We may feel alone when we are afraid, but we are not, God is always with us. God being with us does not mean He is going to solve all our problems, but He promises to never leave us and go through the storms and fears of life with us and give us peace.
We also watched a small video from the Skitguys who gave us some advice about fear such as:
- Acknowledge the fear.
- Remember that most of your fears don’t come true.
- Do the thing you fear.
- Trust in God - God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of love, strength and a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
So if you are fearful, remember that God has given you a spirit of strength. You are stronger than you think you are. Tell fear that you are not going to listen to it anymore.
Mrs Naomi Cooper | Chaplain