Signs of God’s presence

One of the recurring themes in the planning of chapel services and Divinity classes has been the signs and symbols on our campus that signify God’s presence in our school. In our Divinity classes, it is lovely to see how the girls interpret and understand these signs and symbols of God’s presence. The Grade 5s recently had to draw pictures of what Divinity means for them. One of the images that stood out for me was of a wooden cross splitting in two with butterflies coming out of it. It was easy for me as a priest to associate the idea with something related to the creation and to connect it to St Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and ecology. As explained by the Grade 5 pupil, the image speaks of new life. This explanation reminded me of one of the collects for Easter week, which reads as follows:

Lord Jesus Christ

you transformed the tomb of death

into the womb of new life:

make us joyful witnesses

of this good news

that all creation may be redeemed,

restored and reconciled;

for you live and reign

in the unity of the Blessed Trinity,

one God, in glory everlasting. Amen

The exercise with the Grade 5s is a reminder that, while the girls may not have the formal theological language to describe God, in their own way, they know God, and they know about God.

All of us can learn from the girls about how to approach God with a renewed sense of curiosity.

REVD RAKGADI KHOBO
CHAPLAIN