Smithville Christian High School: What's your sound?

If students at Smithville Christian High School really want to LOL (Live Out Loud) they have to know what sound to make.

At this week’s chapel, leadership coach Susan Dunk told students their purpose in life is “to glorify God and enjoy him forever.”

Basing her talk on this year’s theme of Living Out Loud, Dunk said “proclaiming God’s praises” (1 Peter 2:9) requires you to make your sound.

She said our voice prints are even more unique than our fingerprints.

“That’s how phenomenal our God is, he gave you a unique voice and you are to proclaim his praises different than anyone else,” she said.

Dunk used the example of Esther, who risked her life by speaking up but who ended up making “the sound of redemption.”
She said John the Baptist made “the sound of prophecy,” Martin Luther made “the sound of reformation” and Martin Luther King made “the sound of freedom.”
“The sounds they allowed to come forth came from who they were,” said Dunk, reminding students that like Esther, “you were made for such a time as this.”

So what stops us from making our sound? she asked.

She said you can be fearful, which mutes your sound.

She said you can be muffled, by being too busy trying to prove yourself to other people and looking for their validation.

She said you can be masked, by comparing yourself to other people and trying to be someone you’re not.

She said sometimes the words that people use to describe us can seem like they’re negative, but they may actually be our unique sounds when we put them in the right context. For example, a child who is “strong-willed” is actually able to stand up for what is right, she said.

“I challenge you to get together with a friend and find out what you resonate with,” she said.

She prayed for the students “that a word would come up and you would say ‘yes, that is the sound I am to make’ and you would not be afraid of that.”

“You may be called to speak to the elite or to the lowly, but I encourage you not to be mute, muffled or masked.”

Dunk also said she could tell there was something different about Smithville Christian.

“I want to commend you,” she said. “There is something about your school. There is a great spirit here. It feels like family. There is something in the air here, so whatever you are doing. Keep it up.”

At the chapel, members of Student Council executive hosted a bean bag toss as one of the incentives for the ongoing magazine fundraiser.