Every monday at school this year, Dr Long (our principal) does a special devotion to start the week. Every monday morning, it's something to look forward to. He uses metaphors and object lessons to give us thought throughout our week.
On the first monday of the school year, he talked to us about umbrellas, and how they are akin to the oportunuities that await us here at Woodstock. To use his words "You will see a lot of umbrellas around this time of year at Woodstock. But you should not see someone walking around holding a bunch of umbrellas in the middle of a rainstorm, and not one of them is open." The opportunities we have were like umbrellas, and we should make as much use of them as we possibly could. Or else, we would be standing "cold, wet, and unhappy, with a bunch of opportunities you'll never see again".
The next week, Dr Long told us a story of two brothers that went to make their fortunes in the west.
One brother moved to California, to continue the family tradition of cabbage-farming. He did this very successfully, and had a very good, running farm. The other brother decided that he wanted to study geology, and worked odd jobs while he went to night school. eventually, he became a certified geologist, making good money. One day, the geologist brother decides to go and visit his farmer brother. The farmer brother is very excited to see his brother again, and makes a great show of the farm to show off his success. But the geologist brother seems very distracted, and the farmer brother took offense. "Brother, why do you seem so distracted while I'm showing you my wonderful farm?" he asks.
The geologist brother takes him down to the edge of a stream, and begins to sift through the sand at the bank. He picks up a little chunk of something, and holds it to the light. "Brother" he asks "Do you know what this is?" The farming brother replied that no, he didn't. "It's gold, brother. You have been growing cabbages on a goldmine".
Woodstock is a goldmine, he told us. Don't be satisfied to only be growing cabbages.
Last week, Dr Long talked to us about misunderstandings, and how they can be both comical, and devastating. He told us the story of the WC misunderstanding:
Dr Long told us that although a lot of misunderstandings can be hilarious, they can also be hurtful. He told us to think of someone we had hurt, or had been hurt by, because of a misunderstanding, and to apologize to them at some point during the week.
Finally, this monday's devotion was about Angry balloons. " *Puff, puff* Some people, when they get angry *Puff, puff* go off all over the place, spinning out of control (releases balloon, goes flying into the assembly). Some people, when they get angry *puff, puff* just make a lot of noise (pull the ends of the balloon, make horrendous screeching noise). And some people, when they get angry *puff, puff, Puff, Puff, PUFF, PUFF, BOOM!* just explode.
Anger is an energy. Sometimes, it can be a negative energy, harming those around us. It can cause us to do things we regret.
But sometimes, anger can be harnessed, and used in a constructive, guided way. (Here he pulls out a little truck with a baloon attached. He puts it on the floor of the stage and it rolls away, propelled by the air of the balloon).
We all get angry sometimes. This week, how are you going to direct your anger? Will you just make a lot of noise, will you explode, or will you attach it to 4 wheels and make it do something?
Thanks, Dr Long, for giving me something to look forward to on monday mornings.
On the first monday of the school year, he talked to us about umbrellas, and how they are akin to the oportunuities that await us here at Woodstock. To use his words "You will see a lot of umbrellas around this time of year at Woodstock. But you should not see someone walking around holding a bunch of umbrellas in the middle of a rainstorm, and not one of them is open." The opportunities we have were like umbrellas, and we should make as much use of them as we possibly could. Or else, we would be standing "cold, wet, and unhappy, with a bunch of opportunities you'll never see again".
The next week, Dr Long told us a story of two brothers that went to make their fortunes in the west.
One brother moved to California, to continue the family tradition of cabbage-farming. He did this very successfully, and had a very good, running farm. The other brother decided that he wanted to study geology, and worked odd jobs while he went to night school. eventually, he became a certified geologist, making good money. One day, the geologist brother decides to go and visit his farmer brother. The farmer brother is very excited to see his brother again, and makes a great show of the farm to show off his success. But the geologist brother seems very distracted, and the farmer brother took offense. "Brother, why do you seem so distracted while I'm showing you my wonderful farm?" he asks.
The geologist brother takes him down to the edge of a stream, and begins to sift through the sand at the bank. He picks up a little chunk of something, and holds it to the light. "Brother" he asks "Do you know what this is?" The farming brother replied that no, he didn't. "It's gold, brother. You have been growing cabbages on a goldmine".
Woodstock is a goldmine, he told us. Don't be satisfied to only be growing cabbages.
Last week, Dr Long talked to us about misunderstandings, and how they can be both comical, and devastating. He told us the story of the WC misunderstanding:
An Englishman, his wife and their two children, were in Germany on holiday.
During a walk in the countryside, they saw a wonderful cottage in the green and they thought it was good for them for the next summer holidays. There was a notice: TO LET: Phone 719 88 00 66?. They wanted to know more details, so they phoned the owner at once and told him that they wanted to meet him. They met the owner, an Anglican vicar, and decided to rent the house for the next summer. They signed the contract and went back to their country. A few days later, the lady had a terrible doubt and wrote to the priest. Dear Sir, I'm writing to you about the cottage we want to rent for next summer. Before leaving we had a quick look at the house, inside and outside, but I must say that I saw no W.C. around. Can you tell me something about it? Thank you in advance. The priest got the letter, read it and thought she referred to a White Chapel, a church for Anglicans. So he wrote back to her as follows: Dear Madam, I'm very happy to see that you are so interested in the W.C. The nearest W.C. is 6 km far. You can get there on foot or more easily, by bike, especially if you are in a hurry. We highly recommend everybody to be there in advance to avoid queues and make sure to get a seat! This W.C. is very large: it houses 40 people sitting and 60 people standing. At the entrance, each person gets a sheet of paper that he/she must return when he/she leaves, so that it can be used again and again. Those who are late can use the neighbour's sheet. The children sit next to the adults, and they all sing together. There are loudspeakers outside, to let people hear voices and sounds. There's a strong air-conditioning system to eliminate bad smells, especially in summer. Finally, there are specialized photographers ready to take photos and immortalize such a humble and humane event. I look forward to seeing you in my W.C. Yours faithfully, The Vicar |
Dr Long told us that although a lot of misunderstandings can be hilarious, they can also be hurtful. He told us to think of someone we had hurt, or had been hurt by, because of a misunderstanding, and to apologize to them at some point during the week.
Finally, this monday's devotion was about Angry balloons. " *Puff, puff* Some people, when they get angry *Puff, puff* go off all over the place, spinning out of control (releases balloon, goes flying into the assembly). Some people, when they get angry *puff, puff* just make a lot of noise (pull the ends of the balloon, make horrendous screeching noise). And some people, when they get angry *puff, puff, Puff, Puff, PUFF, PUFF, BOOM!* just explode.
Anger is an energy. Sometimes, it can be a negative energy, harming those around us. It can cause us to do things we regret.
But sometimes, anger can be harnessed, and used in a constructive, guided way. (Here he pulls out a little truck with a baloon attached. He puts it on the floor of the stage and it rolls away, propelled by the air of the balloon).
We all get angry sometimes. This week, how are you going to direct your anger? Will you just make a lot of noise, will you explode, or will you attach it to 4 wheels and make it do something?
Thanks, Dr Long, for giving me something to look forward to on monday mornings.
