07/07/2017
A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day with Canon Stephen Shipley, Radio Producer and broadcaster.
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Script
Good morning. Early on this day in 1930, the distinguished author, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, collapsed at his home in Sussex. His death at the relatively early age of 71 was much lamented, but he left a wonderful legacy of detective stories, and in one of them, Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson go on a camping trip. After a good talk and a bottle of claret they fall asleep. Some hours later Holmes wakes and nudges Watson. ‘Watson, look up at the sky and tell me what you see.’ ‘I see millions of stars,’ replied Watson. ‘What does that tell you?’ asked Holmes. Watson pondered for a moment. ‘Astronomically,’ he replied, ‘it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and billions of planets. Astrologically, I observe Saturn is in Leo. Horologically, I observe it is a quarter to three. Theologically, I am in awe of the creative power of God. Meteorologically, I suspect that tomorrow will be a lovely day. And what, may I ask you Holmes, does it tell you?’ ‘Elementary, my dear Watson,’ Holmes replied. ‘It tells me that someone has stolen our tent!’ Now there are many today who claim that Christians have lost their tent. And in this part of northern Europe it might often feel that way. In other parts of the world though, especially in Africa and South America but in other areas too, the last century has seen enormous growth, in the number of Christian believers. So thank you, Lord, for keeping us alert to the wonders of your creative power. May we never be afraid to acknowledge that mystery – the mystery of the Word made flesh who came two thousand years ago and as the original Greek of the Gospel puts it, pitched his tent among us. Amen.
Broadcast
- Fri 7 Jul 2017 05:43´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 4