Chaplains’ Chat

For most of us in life we will have those moments when we dream dreams and think about possibilities for our lives. We can reflect on goals and aspirations and think about potential opportunities for ourselves. In some of these reflections, we might well see ourselves in the future in successful pursuits or enjoying the good things of life. Success in life is something many of us reflect on and think about. While this might look different for various people, many of us picture and desire our lives as being successful. We either look forward to things that might be better than the current, or we look forward to aspiring for things to be different. Success in life might come in many forms. It could be utilising a talent well or achieving a hard won goal. Success in and of itself is not a bad thing.

However, so often in our society, we see many with great desires to be successful, and this can be a negative thing. The drive to succeed can end up being crippling for us in life. Too often, this motivation to succeed will lead to a never ending commitment to always have to succeed, or it will lead to despondency when the success we crave seems so fleeting. As we look at the life of David in Chapel this Term, we see that David knew all about success even from a young age. Some of this was thrust upon him through no fault of his own. He won battles and had the admiration of his fellow countrymen. However, during this success, he knew that his ultimate dependence in life was placed in God. He knew he needed God in his life, and he trusted in God as a result. In Samuel 18:14 we read that “the Lord was with David.” What a great reminder for all of us that in the highs and lows of life, when we trust in God, he is with us.

Rev Anthony Benn
Chaplain