A short time ago the College Captains came and asked to hold a fundraiser focused on raising funds for Brain Cancer research. Of course this is a very worthy cause and one that is very hard to say “no” to, as it is a great cause that was being driven by the Student Leadership Team. However, the motivation for the fundraiser was the most compelling factor that influenced me more than anything else.
“Sir, we have had so many of our friends and families from across the College impacted by cancer, we just want to do something that is a positive statement of support!”, said our Captains in a clear united voice.
What can you say to such a request? “Okay, let’s see how we can do this in a fun way that brings all of Thomas Hassall together for a united cause”…..
So, our Beanie Day was held from Junior School through to the Senior School; hot chocolate was served on the oval during the student House Soccer Grand Final and money was raised for a good cause. Apart from money, however, students got to respond to the needs of others in a simple and practical way. This is ‘compassion’ in action. Compassion is a powerful response to the needs of our community. Such needs are not necessarily monetary; but mostly involves coming alongside someone who is struggling and offering them a shoulder of support. It may also be helping out the teacher who is trying to set up a classroom for a particular activity, or simply smiling and being friendly to a person who might have had a bad day. These are very simple acts of compassion that can be a life changing moment for someone.
In the Bible account from Luke 10, Jesus shares a powerful story of ‘the Good Samaritan’. In this story a traveller is set upon by some bad dudes and ends up in a ditch, robbed of his goods, beaten up and left for dead. On the same road was a priest, who passed by the hurting man, as did the righteous man of law. On the same road was a Samaritan man; a half caste Israelite, considered a lesser person, even unrighteous because of his mixed ethnic background. However, it was the Samaritan who responded to the hurting person. He responded with a simple practical response that gave the beaten traveller a place to stay and recuperate at the expense of the ‘Good Samaritan’. This is compassion in action.
We value ‘compassion’ as a character trait in all our students. We champion this in our College community. It is not too difficult to nurture and develop this disposition when we purposefully go out to bless others with a genuine heart “to serve”. Thank you to all the students who took part in leading the day. Thank you to all the students who responded to the call to support a very worthy cause. Well done, Thomas Hassall!
Luke 10:27-28: Jesus response to the question about the most important commandments: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’”