With Love From The Chapel - Michaelmas Term Week 9

Do you like watching ‘Britain's Got Talent’? 

Do you ever wonder how people find out that they are really good at eyebrow dancing or talking backwards, singing with your mouth closed or dancing like a jellyfish? 

Every year around Christmas time, I ask the Pelican tutors to share their weird and wonderful talents with me to create a quiz for our Christmas Jolly. And every year, the hidden depths of my colleagues amaze me - from ostrich-riding to under-water Backgammon, even a potential career in the secret service - and that is just the staff.

In our Chapel Service this week, we have looked at the Parable of the Talents, which Jesus told his followers to show that we have to make use of the gifts that God has given to us. That it’s not enough to be happy and grateful for the talents with which we are born, but that we must put them to good use, develop them, even share them.

Admittedly, some talents seem to be of more obvious use than others. In fact Mr Holdsworth took the opportunity of our service to launch this year’s ‘Rossall Got Talent’, which every year turns out to be an amazing show of talent -  but what if you do not possess these gifts? What if you are just good at speed-reading? Or solving Rubix cubes at a high speed? 

Well, there is no fundraising without cake-baking, poster-making and accounting. There is no performing without composing, writing, make-up and lighting - and no sports event is possible without coaches, caretakers, drivers or caterers. And then there are also those rare (and sometimes underrated) gifts of those who listen patiently, counsel wisely, affirm positively or simply give a really good hug.

We are all gifted and we can all do our part in the bigger picture that is a better world to live in. And God calls us to do just that: 

Use your gifts, because you have got them for a reason.