17 December
Goldfish
Key Reflective Question
How is your life different from the goldfish’s?
Crossword Clue 22/Answer
Place to keep fish (8)
Aquarium
Discussion starters
Catching a reflection Do you ever think that life is just going round in circles? What do you
try to do to become more aware of your surroundings and of what life is really all about?
Under our noses! A Greek poet once wrote ‘in him we live and move and have our being’
(see Acts 17: 28). Does a fish in the ocean go looking for the water? Does a bird in the sky go
looking for the air? So, do we need to go looking for God?
Fish out of water Why do we imagine that life is more than what we can see, feel touch and
hear? Does it matter whether there is something outside the aquarium?
Memories It’s a matter of debate just how long a goldfish memory lasts – though it is
probably only a matter of seconds. Is the fact that humans have long memories and can reflect on
their meaning a nuisance or a bonus to us?
Activities
1. Most of the time life goes along swimmingly but then the unexpected and unwanted happens.
Often it is then that we catch a glimpse of what our life looks like ‘from the outside’, prompting
us to ask the big questions. Talk about the things that have happened in your life that made you
stop and think about the meaning of life?
2. Read the following possible ‘thoughts of a goldfish’:
Sometimes I think I catch a glimpse of something in the glass, but perhaps it’s only a trick of the
light.
Sometimes I think I hear voices, but perhaps they’re just in my head.
Sometimes I imagine I’ve been here before, but perhaps it’s just a coincidence.
Sometimes I puzzle about where the air comes from, but then it’s always been here, hasn’t it?
Sometimes I wish I could fly…
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Do you think human beings ever start thinking like this? Do you?
3. The philosopher Descartes wrote, ‘I think therefore I am’. What would be your definition of
being truly human?
For example: I imagine therefore I am, or I pray therefore I am.
Work on this as a group and decide on your top three definitions.
4. Look up what Shakespeare wrote about all this in his tragedy Hamlet. The hero tries to
describe what makes human beings so special: see Act 2 Scene 2 line 303 ff
‘What a piece of work is man…’
Can you summarise what is being said about the meaning of life? What do you think about this?
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Wordsearch (Goldfish)
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Wordsearch (Goldfish) Solution
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(Over,Down,Direction)
BOWL(11,14,NW)
BUBBLES(1,8,SE)
CIRCLES(8,1,S)
FISH(7,8,N)
FRIENDS(1,4,E)
GOD(12,4,E)
OTHERS(13,2,SW)
OWN(4,5,SE)
SWIM(2,8,NE)
WATER(15,5,W)
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