Lobster Life...

I’ve been learning some great things about lobsters lately.

While I’ve always known that they are delicious, I’ve only recently found out some facts about their life cycle and particularly what it’s like to be a young lobster.

Marine biologists who work in the area of breeding lobsters will tell you that it can be really difficult for a lobster to come to maturity. In fact, over 98% of lobsters don’t survive until adult “lobsterhood”. Breeding farms try to replicate the conditions of the ocean currents and temperatures in order to maximise the growth of these tasty creatures.

Interestingly, when lobsters enter their ‘teenage’ years, they do best when living in community. Lobsters don’t thrive in tanks on their own. However, in a cruel twist, when lobsters shed their tough exoskeletons (this is called moulting) and their soft interiors are exposed, they are far more likely to be eaten by other lobsters. This vulnerability, coupled with the deep need for community, creates a paradox in the lobster world; the very thing they need can also be the thing that hurts them.

Maybe as humans we can learn something from these lobsters.

Maybe as humans we can learn something from these lobsters. I really believe that God has created us for community. I look around our school and see so much richness in learning together, playing together and growing together. At the moment we have so many opportunities for our students to be part of community, including our recent Production Camp, the upcoming Winter Sleepout for Years 11 and 12 as well all of the colour and excitement of Book Week last week.

While we celebrate these awesome opportunities for community, there’s also a challenge to care for our vulnerable people. As we follow the lobster metaphor for both our children and ourselves, sometimes shedding the exoskeleton can leave us feeling exposed and helpless. Teenagers in particular can feel vulnerable as they face changes in friendships, prepare for exams or make decisions about their future study or work life. It is my prayer that as a school we can care for students in every stage of their lives and build a community of people whose love for Jesus is reflected in their compassion for others.

Stelle Carmichael - Head of Students