More Joy, Fun, Cuddles and Chocolate for Everyone

Regular readers of the blog will know how much I appreciate the education our children receive in their respective schools. There are many opportunities for the children to flourish and try new things and make friends as they undertake all their activities together.

Our daughter has complex needs and goes to a special school called Torbank, and there was great excitement when we received communication from her classroom to tell us she had been nominated to serve for the coming year as Deputy Head Girl.

There would be a week of campaigning and then the pupils and the teachers could all cast their votes.

We wondered to ourselves how this might work as our daughter is non-verbal, but we needn’t have worried. Her teachers and classroom assistants had designed a poster to celebrate the things that were important to her, and to use those things to convince the undecided who they might vote for.

At a time in history when the world seems more polarised and divided than almost any time in my memory, I loved the creative way in which Torbank wanted to affirm our children in their diversity and to enable them to stand for the things they enjoyed most in life.

We laughed when we saw Lucy’s slogan and poster. It urged her colleagues to vote for her and as her campaign slogan she sought more joy, fun, cuddles and chocolate for everyone.

It may have been a special school having a little bit of fun and encouraging the children to appreciate the gifts in each other, but it seemed like a prophetic and countercultural slogan for our time.

As we hear of so many controversies about fake news and highjacking the truth, and the world seems to flap helplessly as the rhetoric is dialled up about whether there is or there isn’t genocide in Gaza; as influential countries declare their support for recognising that Palestine is a sovereign state in its own right and people are deeply divided about these things; as civilian casualties mount up in Ukraine and Russia and civil war seems to bubble below the surface in countries like South Sudan, and Democratic Republic of Congo and bitter election campaigns seem to be the prevailing wind in international politics, perhaps these children and their inspiring teachers and classroom assistants have something very powerful to say to the world.

We felt extremely honoured that Lucy should be chosen as a candidate for this role in such a special and inspiring school. When it was announced at assembly a week later that she had secured the election by just a few votes, we were sent some beautiful photos of her being led onto the stage while everyone cheered and clapped and, true to her election slogan, she hugged the vice principal, we found a tear in our eye.

We weren’t sure because of her learning disability whether she would be too bothered one way or the other about whether she would get the necessary votes. What was more important in her way of thinking seemed to be more joy, more fun, more cuddles and chocolate for everyone.

Is this actually what is needed in the corridors of power throughout the world? Is it what is needed in the public square around debate and discourse and the way people treat each other?

There was no demand for a recount, no accusations of corruption or cheating when the results were announced. All Lucy’s teachers and classroom assistants rushed to congratulate Vicky when she collected Lucy from school that day. Her recorded message which comes home every day was full of joy and cheering as her friends rejoiced in this special honour that had come her way.

Knowing her love for balloons, the principal brought some in for her as the new pupils’ leadership team were photographed for the school website. She was given a red badge to wear everyday as part of her new role for the coming year.

When we felt a bit weary after a busy week, we gave thanks for Lucy’s incredible teachers, friends and classroom assistants, and decided that there is a lot of truth and value in this wonderful slogan. “More joy, more fun, more cuddles and chocolate for everyone.”

Don’t forget if you would like to be part of our Alpha course offering an opportunity to explore questions about faith and life and purpose, there’s an opportunity to come along to the coffee bar in the church hall at 7.30pm on Wednesdays. All are welcome.

Look forward to speaking again soon.

Much love to everyone,

Jono.

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