With Love From The Chapel - Michaelmas Term Week 7
Sometimes, a bit of stress brings out the best in people. After an inspection week, we can probably all attest to that - we can all do great things under pressure.
Our Year 8’s - while studying Jesus’ ministry - have looked into the Parable of the Wise and the Foolish Builder - some of you might have enjoyed a rather upbeat song about their building efforts when you were younger. It’s straightforward: The Wise builder builds his house on a rock, a solid foundation, designed well and built with quality material - and when the stormy tide comes in, it holds fast.
The Foolish one builds quickly and cheaply and on sand - and when the weather is raving, he is paying dearly for it as his house gets swept away with the tide.
We all need strong houses - something to rely on in stormy weather, something to come and seek shelter in when times are rough and something we know is safe. And when we are at ‘home’ in safety, we can relax and no level of bad weather can derail us. Something we are all aware of on a daily basis living on the Fylde Coast!
An inspection is a bit like this kind of storm - a massive tidal wave, where you check the forecast carefully because you are questioning if your house is really as solid as you think it is. But a by-product of this is that you get to see everyone pulling together in all kinds of imaginative ways, from laminated paperwork to polished shoes. (My favourite moment possibly being that of the one boarder who decided to take down the ladies he had on his bedroom wall because he feared their attire (or lack thereof) could offend inspectors.)
When Jesus told the Parable of the Builders, he knew we all need God’s love to rely on as our foundation - He strengthens and provides, guides and unites - like metaphorical concrete holding all kinds of rocks together. We have extraordinary young (and old) ‘rocks’ here at school, who are all happy to tackle stormy tides together.
What a lovely thing to remember when the tide is out again!
With Love From The Chapel
