Thought for the Day

30 September 2009

Father Robert King, the Catholic Chaplain at the University of Bristol, is one of the regular contributors to BBC Radio Bristol’s Thought for the Day.  When our contributors are on air we'll bring you the text of their thoughts. 

Thought for the Day is part of BBC Radio Bristol’s breakfast programme with Steve le Fevre.  The reflection is given at around twenty to eight every morning. 

Father Robert's thought from last week is still online.

This is Father Robert's thought from this morning:

"Good morning, Steve.  Rush hour is is on the way, what will the roads be like today?

"Well in a few hours the pavements are going to be really hectic with new and returning students. It's freshers week. That exciting time when new friendships are formed and old ones rekindled. A time of stepping out into something new.  I know it's a bit of pain having to queue to buy a sandwich or go around the block a couple of times to park the car, but I'm glad the students are back. Bristol is a great place to live: it's young, vibrant and diverse without the grief of being too big. The students have picked out Bristol as the setting for this important time in their life.

"As a university chaplain my work load increases massively at this time of year. Meeting new students and reacquainting myself with those returning over the last few days I am again struck at the remarkable ability of the young ... to be at once confident and vulnerable. That's a good way to be and I remember feeling that way myself. I don't mean to say that it is good to be vulnerable… but it is good to recognise that we are works in progress.

"Growing up might start when we are young, but I wouldn't like to guess when we stop learning about ourselves. We may well become more self aware as we grow, but the joy of life is often in the unexpected realisations we make. So as we stand in line, patiently waiting, let's remember how it's good to be young – especially  young at heart!"