The First Chapel Speech

On Monday, I gave my first ever chapel speech at Kyushu Gakuin. It wasn't how I imagined chapel speeches would be, but that isn't a bad thing. For one, I wasn't in a chapel. Kyushu Gakuin has chapel every morning, with English chapel on Mondays, but since all the students cannot fit inside the chapel at one time, they take turns and the rest of the students remain in their classes. This means that the hymns, message, and prayers are done over the intercom system. So, instead of standing before pews of students, I looked out over the track and field while speaking into a microphone from the recording room in the teacher's office.

I was very nervous about my first chapel message. I have never talked to a big group of people about God and my faith, and certainly not a large group of people for whom English was not their first language and who, for the majority, are unfamiliar with Christianity. However, as I was working, or rather supposed to be working on my Japanese, I believe in reality I was watching a Japanese drama, the topic of my message was suddenly there.

I had been feeling rather stressed. Japanese lessons, I felt, weren't going as well as I would like, and I was struggling with homesickness and culture shock. I still am to be honest. I was sick for about three weeks running, first with a virus and then the dreaded flu. It had kept me cooped up in my apartment for far too long. I was back in the swing of things, but that was difficult as well.

It struck me that the students at Kyushu Gakuin were probably pretty stressed out as well, though for entirely different reasons. It is testing season for the third year junior highers and for the third year high schoolers. You have to test to get into your chosen high school in Japan and, like in America, you test to get into college. However, the college tests here are quite a bit more extensive. As for the rest of the students, those not testing for life changing events, they were approaching the end of the school year and the start of a new one, which can be stressful in itself.

So, with that in mind I sat down to hammer out my speech. I had been told to have it run no more than three minutes. Then I would submit it for translation and present it on Monday, February 25th, with Kyushu Gakuin's chaplain giving the translation. It was a bit of a struggle to write it in simple English and fit my thoughts onto one page, but below is the final result. I have no idea about the impact of my speech. I doubt I will ever know how my speeches are received, especially as I am not looking at my audience while I give them. I can only hope that God spoke to my students through me that morning and that my words gave some comfort or support if it was needed.

Chapel Speech - February 25, 2013

"I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

- John 16:33

I've been feeling stressed out. Do you know the feeling? You aren't sure what you are doing, or how you are going to do it, so you just keep moving forward hoping it will all work out? That's how I have been feeling recently. Stressed. I think lots of people feel stressed.

When I get to feeling too stressed or troubled, I like to go for a run. I like running. I run alone and my whole world becomes my feet hitting the pavement one after the other and my breath moving in and out. Running isn't always easy, but it is simple. One step in front of the other; breath in, breath out.

I often wish that other aspects of my life were as simple as my run, but they aren't. They are troublesome and often complicated and no matter how hard, fast, or far I run, I just can't find the answers to my troubles. I bet you know what I mean. Maybe you don't go running. Maybe you like to listen to music, write, play other sports, or just sit quietly when you are stressed. I also bet that you don't always find the answers to your troubles when you do those things. So where do we get the answers to our troubles? How can we feel at peace in our busy, complicated world?

It is important when things seem too overwhelming to remember that you do not have to face this world alone. God tells us to turn to Him and He will grant us peace. Yes, this life is complicated and it does have its troubles. Yes, we are often stressed, and worried, and wonder what the answers are, what the right decisions might be. God tells us to bring it all to Him in prayer. That doesn't mean you have to run to the nearest church, kneel at the altar, clasp your hands, and close your eyes. He's happy when you just talk to Him, when you let it all out, and tell Him all your worries and fears. You are not alone. God is right there next to you, ready to help you, to relieve your burden. He never leaves you. There is no power on Earth that can take Him away, or make Him care for you less. He loves you and wants to relieve your fears. So next time you are feeling stressed, pray to God.  I know I will. And then I'll lace up my running shoes because that run is a gift of peace from God.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Please remind us that you are with us, even in our darkest times, when we are scared and feel alone. Remind us that you are there, waiting for us to turn to you for help. Thank you for your endless support and love.

Amen