Recently I had another chance to teach a special message at the Huddle (our LACS Middle School’s Friday chapel time) and the following week at our LACS Elementary School Friday chapel. The theme was “God is merciful,” and even though I wasn’t feeling as confident as I should have while preparing the message, it was clear during the delivery that God was doing something big even in my own heart!
I began both chapel times the same way—with a “Minute to Win It” Challenge. I chose one student who wanted the opportunity to win Hot Cheetos/fruit snacks and a Gatorade (pretty much the dream of all children, big and small). The hands went up quickly, but I only chose one student. In both cases, the student came up front, and I explained the challenge. She would have to eat eight saltine crackers in one minute in order to win the snacks. However, if she failed the challenge, her punishment would be that I would shoot her with a super soaker water gun.
At this point, the challengers begin to look nervous, but ready to take it on. The timer started and even while chewing just the first cracker their eyes got huge with desperation. The thing about this challenge is that it is actually considered an “impossible challenge” because the salt in the crackers soaks up all your saliva, drying out your mouth and making it impossible to eat many at all. During both chapels, the challengers only got through two crackers apiece.
As we explained the rules again, we discussed that each challenger had agreed to the terms and had failed. Therefore, did they deserve the punishment that was coming for them? Yes, of course. To my amazement, the rest of the student body watching this happen began to chant, “Soak her! Soak her!” Meanwhile, the challengers said they knew they deserved to be soaked, but they were searching for a way out. Thankfully, I decided that because I loved them, I would not give them the punishment they deserved—that’s mercy. I took it even further by giving them the prize anyway—that’s grace. I was surprised how easily the students grasped the concept of mercy, but their desire to see one of their classmates receive proper punishment gave us a great opportunity to discuss that sometimes it’s easier to want mercy for ourselves when we fail, but not to desire mercy for others when they fail.
So often I find myself in the crowd shouting for others to be punished while I ask God for mercy over myself when I fail Him. It was eye opening and challenging for me (and my Christian character) even as the teacher. May we all be lovers of mercy!