The Adventure of Life
Life is full of opportunities
Suitable for Whole School (Sec)
Aims
To consider that life is an adventure, full of opportunities.
Preparation and materials
- You will need the PowerPoint slides that accompany this assembly (The Adventure of Life) and the means to display them.
Assembly
- Show Slides 1 to 6.
As you show each slide, briefly comment on the stages of life from baby through to old age.
Point out that, as babies, we don’t know what the future holds for us. - Show Slide 7.
Point out that many of the students present will have little idea yet as to what they want to do in the future. - Show Slide 8.
We use emojis to indicate various emotions. Point out that none of us knows what will happen in the future, but we are all likely to have sad, happy, exciting and worrying times. No doubt we will all sometimes feel cross, angry, jealous or full of laughter. - Ask the students to think back over their lives so far and identify times when things have happened to them that have been unexpected. Ask them how they felt in these situations. Did they complain? Did they ask why such a thing was happening to them?
Explain that whether their journey through life has so far been good, bad or indifferent, they are here now - and forwards is the only way to go. - Show Slide 9.
Explain that at some points in our lives, we all feel like we don’t have the opportunity to do certain things. A door seems firmly shut with no way ahead, or we can’t see the path ahead of us. - Show Slide 10.
At other times, we might catch a glimpse of what is ahead.
Show Slide 11.
Sometimes, a door will seem to burst open for us and the way ahead may seem clear. - There may be times when a door seems to be open, but when we try to step through it, it closes. For example, we might have an interview for a job, but then not be offered the role.
However, if we want to make the most of our lives, we need to step ahead, through the doorway and into new and exciting things on the other side. - Read out the following passage, which has been adapted from John Hick’s book, Philosophy of Religion.
Two people are travelling along the same road. One of them believes that it leads to the Celestial City, the other that it is just a road. There is only one road, and both must travel along it. During the journey, the two travellers encounter moments both of pleasure and delight and of hardship and sorrow. One of the travellers is prepared to put up with the bad times, sure in her mind that the goal to be achieved is worth it. The other grumbles and complains. As they turn the last corner, one of them will be proved right and the other wrong. Yet they will both have made the same journey.
Time for reflection
Challenge the students to think about their outlook on life. Do they see problems or difficulties as opportunities, or do they grumble and complain?
God does not promise an easy journey through life, but he does promise that he will be there beside the travellers. Christians and other believers do not expect an easier life than anyone else. What they expect and find is that God is there walking with them through life. He will advise, help and encourage people to make the most of all that comes their way.
Song/music
‘Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia’ from the ballet Spartacus by Khachaturian, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZLMKkEGFRo (9.01 minutes long)
The piece conveys the idea of movement through life, with periods of adventure, noise, storm and calm.
