CHAPEL TALK

“We’re in the Same Boat”

By the Rev. Darren Steadman

Here at St. Christopher’s School, we not only want to get good grades in class, but we also focus on being the best person we can be. So, every month, we focus on a new core value, a positive character trait. And every month, we work on a new core value so by the end of the year, we will be gentlemen of honor and integrity.

The first value we focus on is citizenship. Now, I want all of you to grow up to be great leaders in different ways, using your own gifts and abilities. And the first thing that every leader has to learn is how to be a good citizen. In other words, to lead a group of people, you have to know how to be part of that group of people first. We all have to be good citizens, even the leaders.

Our scripture reading today comes from the book of Philippians, which was originally a letter written to people who were starting a new church. Paul wanted to start new churches everywhere, so he wrote letters like this one to his friends in different cities, explaining how to live together and start a new Christian community.

Paul wrote to his friends saying, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Philippians 2:3-4) Paul was saying that it’s important to always look at the people around you and honor everyone’s needs and gifts, not just your own. This is how to be a good citizen.

There’s a story about this idea from the ancient Jewish tradition. Once, in a faraway kingdom, a messenger approached the king one day in the royal court. “Your Majesty, there are fires spreading in the east! Villages are burning, King, please help!” The king thought and asked, “Are these fires spreading all the way up to the royal castle?” “No, Your Majesty,” the messenger replied, “they are in the far eastern edges of the kingdom.” The king spoke: ”Well, then, I’m sure they’ll figure it out for themselves,” and he sent the messenger away.

Soon, another messenger came with another message, “King, there is flooding

“All things come of thee O Lord, and of thine own have we given thee.” Lower School students take part in chapel.

in the west!” The king asked the same question: ”Will the floods reach all the way to this castle?” Once again, the messenger was dismissed without any provision. This went on, and pretty soon everyone in the kingdom learned how the king responded to the hardships of his people. Soon after, an idea formed in the mind of the kingdom’s great boatmaker. She was skilled in woodworking and clever, too. She decided to build a royal sailboat for the king and deliver it as a gift. So she did, and when the king saw this beautiful sailboat for the first time, he requested they immediately set sail on the royal lake. So they did, and out on the lake, the boatbuilder hoisted the sails to enjoy the serene calm of the royal lake.

The king sat on his ornate throne on one end of the sailboat, while the boatbuilder sat at the other end, tending to the ropes and sails. Then, she pulled out a drill, and simply began drilling a hole directly in the bottom of the boat! The king noticed her doing this, and spoke: ”Excuse me, but I can’t help but believe that drilling that hole might be a bad idea.”

“Oh no, King, trust me, I am way over here on my side of the boat, you have nothing to worry about,” and she continued to drill. Soon, a trickle of water sprang from the hole. The king spoke again: ”Excuse me, please stop drilling that hole!” She did not stop drilling, only calmly replied, “Your Majesty, please trust that I know what I’m doing over here. You just enjoy the beautiful view.” And the water continued to pour into the bottom of the boat. “Excuse me! Stop drilling that hole at once!”

“But King, I’m way over here, why are you so upset?”

“Well isn’t it obvious to you?! We’re in the SAME BOAT!”

The boatbuilder stopped drilling and paused. “What’s that you say, Your Majesty?”

“We’re in the SAME BOAT!” the king screamed.

“Yes, we are, aren’t we? Just like all the people of your kingdom are in the same kingdom, and all the people of earth are on the same earth. Yes, Your Majesty, we are in the same boat, aren’t we?”

The king thought, and realized what he’d done. “Please, wise boatbuilder, take me back to the castle. I have a lot of work to do.”

St. Christopher’s, I have full confidence in each and every one of you to grow up to become great leaders! But first, we must all learn and never forget that to become a great leader, you must be a good citizen. Always remember, “We’re in the same boat!”

AMEN

The Rev. Darren Steadman delivered this talk in Lower School chapel in September.