With Love From Chapel - Lent Term - Week 10

One of the first people I met when I moved to England was a young man who told me he worked for ‘Comic Relief’. Now, as I was in the middle of an English degree, I was only too familiar with the use of ‘comic relief’ and had some firm favourites amongst the Shakespearean characters responsible for said ‘comic relief’. But that hardly constituted a job, let alone one that might generate a salary. 

It took this young man a while until I understood what he was talking about. I had never heard of ‘Red Nose Day’ and the concept of generating money with acts of comedy seemed utterly bizarre to me - almost indecent and possibly a little bit offensive. Many of our international students and parents might be equally confused about how wearing a red nose for a day might change someone’s life - and yet it might.

Many Red Nose Days later, the penny has dropped for me, and I enjoy the fact that so many funny people get together to bring joy and laughter and beauty into a world that does at times feel slightly dystopian. At the same time, they raise more money each year to help out the poor, the weak, the hungry and the disadvantaged in our society. 

In his Beatitudes, Jesus called all these people ‘blessed’ and even ‘happy’. In all their suffering, they can be happy because their future is taken care of by God, which is an amazing prospect. However, until that eternal future comes, it is our job to support them - and we can be joyful in this service. 

It is hugely encouraging that the boys in Spread Eagle have decided to mark Red Nose Day with some really fun fund-raising ideas, introducing all the students to the work of Comic Relief and giving them a great chance to be part of some super funny competitions while raising money for many different worthy causes. Go, Spread Eagle!

With Love From The Chapel