Secondary: Current Assemblies

SECRET LIVES

By Brian Radcliffe


Suitable for Whole School


Aim

Students are encouraged to consider their own sensitivity to what might be happening in one another’s lives.

Preparation and materials

• No materials required.

Assembly

1. It’s a sad yet often interesting task to clear the house belonging to an elderly person who has recently died. You never know quite what you may unearth.
   
   Imagine opening a box and in it discovering some very old documents. There is a set of detailed drawings of military pennants and insignia, obviously for the battalions of a foreign army. There is a series of notes on the movements of troops. Finally there’s an official letter on headed notepaper signed by the Commander in Chief Home Forces, General Sir Harold Franklyn.
   
2. This experience really happened to a man called Richard Sluman. He was sorting through the belongings of his father a few days after the funeral. Mr Sluman senior had been a quietly spoken country vicar who was greatly respected in the village where he’d served for many years. Yet, judging by the evidence in the box, he’d obviously lived a second, secret life.
   
   Following some research, Richard discovered that his father, during World War Two, had been part of the British section of the largest resistance movement in Western Europe. Even though they never saw active service, this resistance organization consisted of highly trained Special Units expert in combat and demolition, with a sophisticated network of intelligence gathering Special Duties groups. The members of these groups were largely older, respected people in the community who had reason to travel freely around the countryside. Reverend Sluman was a co-ordinator for such a Special Duties group.
   
3. A fictional example of someone with a secret life must be Clark Kent. Most of the time he is a mild-mannered, bespectacled reporter, one of the crowd. That’s until the word goes out that some catastrophe has happened, someone needs rescuing or the world itself is in danger. Then Clark Kent turns into Superman, the saviour of all things good and wholesome. When the problem has been solved, he reverts to his private persona and no one is any the wiser.
   
4. I believe that there are also some secret lives being lived out here in this school. For example, there are the quietly successful, those who shy away from publicity and are naturally self-effacing. Their achievements may not be in the obvious arenas of sport and performance, yet are of the highest possible standard. (You may wish to name an example of such a student.)
   
   Then there are the quietly generous, the students who give their time and money to support a special cause. Often all they receive is a word of thanks from those they help. Sometimes they may not even get that. (You may wish to name an example of such a student.)
   
   Finally there are those students who, without mentioning it to anyone, are secretly living a life of difficulty, maybe even suffering. This could be because of a medical condition that causes them pain or disability. It could be because they are a carer, looking after their parent or siblings in the absence of other support. (It is probably not appropriate to name an example of such a student.)
   
   And all this happens in secret.

Time for reflection

Reflection

One of the skills that Jesus possessed was that of picking out individuals from among the crowd. He identified the secret concerns of many who came to listen to him and gave them healing and encouragement. He praised the poor woman who secretly gave the last of her money to the temple offering. He identified the traitor among his band of followers. It’s a very useful skill.

I’m sure many of you know about one another’s secret lives. You also know why these lives are kept secret. So what might be an appropriate way to respond? Even if someone wishes to stay out of the spotlight it’s always encouraging to give a personal word of congratulation. A simple thank you to those who are generous can also be appropriate. With those who are suffering or under the stress of caring it may be necessary to be more tactful. A quiet offer of support at the right moment, or a sign of empathy could be all that’s needed, but be careful not to cause embarrassment.

Spend a moment considering the following thoughts. You may wish to turn them into a prayer:

Be thankful for those who recognize what you do and give praise, support and thanks.

Be sorry for your own insensitivity to what might be happening in lives around you.

Make a plan to take some action that arises out of today’s assembly. It’s likely to consist of saying the right words at the right time.

Suggested music

‘He who would valiant be’ (Come and Praise, 44)

The theme to ‘The Dam Busters’ film (widely available)

‘Nimrod’ from the Enigma Variations by Elgar, a moving piece associated with commemorating those who died in wars. It is played at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday.