I am a senior and I still like going to Chapel.
Chapel is one of the traditions that makes ACU so unique. It separates us from hundreds of other schools.
It’s usually taken for granted, but lately I’ve been noticing people treating it with no proper respect at all.
Chapel provides students with a half-hour break from class and studying every day. The minutes surrounding it provide a chance to sit with friends and spend time catching up on everyone’s morning.
More importantly, Chapel is an open opportunity to praise God with singing, scripture and prayer.
It is not the time to be frantically completing last minute homework assignments. It is not the time to be skimming through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. It is a designated time to stop talking, stop texting and focus on something bigger than us.
It’s only half an hour out of the entire day. For a group of mature adults, it shouldn’t be that hard to stop talking, sit still and pay attention. Those skills were supposed to be refined in elementary school.
I admit it. When it comes to glancing at my phone or sending a quick text, I’m as guilty as the next person. I confess, I’m guilty. My heart isn’t always in the worship. Sometimes I sit there thinking about how stressful my day is.
But I still see Chapel as a blessing, not an inconvenience.
It’s thirty minutes of my day that I have no control over. It’s thirty minutes I can spend reflecting on how unfathomable God’s love for us is.
Why wouldn’t you want to appreciate that?
There are people who come to Chapel for the sole purpose of earning another Chapel credit. After they slide out for the 55th time, they are never seen in Moody again. If their heart isn’t in it, fine. However, they should be respectful of those who are trying to pay attention. Don’t ruin the experience for the rest of us.
Then there are the people who complain about going to Chapel. They don’t just complain about the 55 required credits. They complain about the overall experience. I feel sorry for these people. They are completely missing the point. They’ve been given a rare opportunity and don’t get a single thing out of it.
True, sometimes Chapel is a little slow, or the speaker can’t be heard very well or the singing is pitched a little to high. But there’s an overall message people are overlooking: we’re celebrating God’s presence in our everyday lives.
As college students we should take pride in the fact that this type of service is even allowed to take place on campus. Christians should be taking advantage of every opportunity to praise God. This means every day not just during Praise Day.
It’s time for a campus-wide attitude adjustment.
