The BBC marked the Children in Need Appeal 2020 on Friday 13th November and I hope that once again we will see a record amount of money being raised for this wonderful cause. Normally I would watch the One Show’s Rickshaw Challenge every day during the week and I normally find the experience both moving and inspiring as the group of young people battle against the elements and tackle some of the steepest hills in the country to raise money for the appeal. This is never simply a test of endurance, it also stretches the young people as they make a public speech explaining the challenges they are living with and the way that projects supported by children in need have helped them through their life experiences.
I am glad that the people at The One Show have decided to run the challenge again this year, the style of the programme is completely different, with the young people riding exercise bikes in their own homes because a member of the crew tested positive for Covid and plans were changed at the last minute. It seems to me that we often use the word “disabled” to describe people who have needed to live different kinds of lives because of the challenges they are living with. Karen and I watched DIYSOS on Thursday where the team were building a facility for a charity in South Wales where children and young people with a range of different health issues were helped to experience surfing in the sea, the programme was inspiring and I would highly recommend it.
The way that we have treat people who are different over many generations is appalling and I thank God for the wonderful work that is being done today, but what needs to change is our attitude. Todays Bible reading is Matthew 25: 14-30, a passage that will be familiar to many as Jesus tells the story about a man who leaves his estate in the hands of his workers while he goes away. He gives the most to the most able and the least to the least able, on his return, the master receives back what his servants have done, the first two, who had received the larger shares, gave back what they had received, each with profit. The man who had received the least, had done nothing, and simply handed back what he had received. What does this mean?
I believe that God has entrusted his world to a bunch of human beings, some powerful and authoritative, many, much less able. I often hear people say, “what can I do, I’m only…” and I must admit, there have been times when I have felt helpless myself faced with challenges that seem beyond my ability. I would suggest that is half a dozen young people can set out with all they have to deal with to cycle three hundred and thirty two miles, they smashed that early in the week and at the point when I am writing, they are pedalling towards their new six hundred and three mile target which is the equivalent of Land’s End to John O’Groats as the crow flies. I applaud all those who stretch themselves to the limit, invest all they can for the welfare and wellbeing of others, particularly those who do so against all the odds and maybe they remind us to use the gifts God has given us.