Why Spirituality?
Spirituality is an integral part of what makes us whole and ultimately human. We encounter it each day in everyday encounters and our daily life. It shapes our way of being, how we live our lives and how we ‘are’ ourselves.
What do we mean by Spirituality?
Spirituality is unique to each individual and does not conform to being easily described. Its very uniqueness means that we do not want to force it into a single definition. Therefore we have taken Rebecca Nye’s description of what Spirituality can look like:
- Delighting in all things;
- Being absorbed in the present moment (just ‘be-ing’);
- Not too attached to ‘self’; and
- Eager to explore boundaries of ‘beyond’ and ‘other’;
- Searching for meaning;
- Discovering purpose;
- Open to more?
As a school we see Spirituality as being like a child and that the children have much to teach adults about Spirituality.
They are open to seeing things and see things with a mystical quality;
They are open and curious with a natural capacity for questioning and wonder;
They are ready to learn new things all the time and are comfortable with new understanding;
They have strong emotional responses which can be intense or fleeting as they learn about their feelings; knowing what it is like to surrender to forces beyond their control;
They don’t have all the answers! Mystery is a close unthreatening friend helping them respond with awe and a search for meaning;
They accept that their words may not be able to describe thoughts and feelings knowing real worth and importance are about more than saying things.
Jesus said…
‘Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.’ Mark 9:37
How do we talk about Spirituality in school?
The language of Spirituality can be difficult and confusing. Therefore we have broken down how we speak about Spirituality and experiences into an understandable format.
We have based this on a key passage of scripture; Mark 12:29.
“The most important commandment,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘… Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ Mark 12:29
For us Spirituality is seen daily in the everyday life of the school from excitement in play, asking difficult and ‘big’ questions of adults and peers, curiosity and wonder, experiencing and spending time outdoors in the environment and the joy and delight of life.
Spirituality is threaded through our school vision as an integral part of our whole school community loving themselves, others, learning and life.