January 20

Today brought a big announcement:  our 7th and 8th grade play this year will be The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe!  Students responded to the announcement with cheers and animated discussions about the characters and the possible roles they will play.  I and they are very excited about getting started on our play!  We are awaiting the arrival of our scripts, and if they arrive this afternoon (it's almost noon as I write) we will read through they play today.  That would mean that we could hold auditions on Monday.  If the scripts don't arrive in time for us to read the play today, we'll read it next week and hold auditions on the following Monday.  Either way, we'll be getting started soon!  A date for the play will follow.  We need to request use of an auditorium and get confirmation from Dearborn Public, so it will be a little while before we know our performance date, but I'll send the date home as soon as I know it. 

We discussed The Hiding Place today, focusing especially on the family's involvement in the Underground protecting the Jews.  The ten Booms were uniquely suited to work with the Underground; students discussed in groups the characteristics that made the family prepared for this work, and we saw that, as Corrie says, the events of our lives are the perfect preparation for the work that God has for us to do in a future he alone knows.  The ten Booms' work in the Underground meant that they were sometimes put in situations where things like lying and stealing seemed necessary to save lives, and we talked about when, if ever, these things we know to be wrong are acceptable.  Students were very thoughtful and perceptive in their answers, and we heard from some who believe lying and stealing are never right and from some who pointed out that in extreme circumstances, when lives are in danger, such things might be permissible.  I was proud of the students for the depth and quality of their answers, and we had a great discussion.  It tied in nicely to our devotion, too, which talked about the measure of whether something is wrong or right being the character of God himself:  those things that are like God and are part of his character are right, whereas those things that are not in God's character are wrong. We also talked about the courage and faith the family demonstrated in their work, and we imagined how we might respond in similar circumstances.  We marveled, too, as we thought about sacrificing our safety for others, at Christ's willingness to sacrifice his life for all sinners.  What a wonderful gift!

This weekend students should read chapter nine of The Hiding Place and may prepare for our auditions for the play.  I hope that you have a wonderful weekend!