Chaplains’ Chat

I am sure we all enjoy a good holiday. A good holiday can mean different things to different people. Some will be able to experience an overseas destination, others will participate in travel closer to home, while others will enjoy some downtime and relaxation at home. Either way, there are great benefits with breaks from work and the weekly routines. With the Olympics currently being the centre of attention for most sporting enthusiasts, there was another great sporting event completed during the holiday time, namely the Tour de France. We can marvel at the skill, athleticism and determination of so many of these riders as they complete the gruelling event which lasts for three weeks.

In Chapel, it was noted that in many ways the Tour is perhaps a metaphor for life. There are times when the stages are relatively flat and with the help of the peloton, riders can navigate each stage reasonably well. For many of us, there will be times when life is reasonably straight forward to navigate. Perhaps friendships are growing, school seems to be going well, and there is much to enjoy in life. This is of course wonderful. However, the mountain stages in the Tour really sought out the riders. These stages are tough, and all the riders have to complete the stages. There will be times in our life when things are tough. For some, this might last a relatively short time, while for others this can seem to last for months at a time. How we navigate through this time will be crucial. Family, friends and colleagues as support are always important in these stages of life. In Chapel this Term we are looking at the life of David in the Old Testament. He experienced the highs and lows of life and yet one constant in his life was his trust and dependence on God. He gives us a wonderful example in this regard as we move through life ourselves.

Rev Anthony Benn
Chaplain