大象传媒

A reflection and prayer to start the day with Jonathan Rea

SCRIPT

Good morning.

When I was a boy, I filled the walls of my bedroom with posters of expensive cars - aspirational symbols which have sadly remained out of reach. But my favourite was a Rolls-Royce, pictured in front of an elegant house, and underneath it said, 鈥淢y tastes are simple 鈥� I like to have the best鈥�.

Charles Rolls was a privileged young man - the first Cambridge undergraduate to own a car. Henry Royce worked as a telegram boy from the age of nine and educated himself to become an engineer. And on this date in 1906, Rolls and Royce formed the company that would become a byword for opulence and quality.

Rolls was a racing driver and he kept the cars in the public eye. Royce was the design genius who pushed the boundaries of developing automotive technology. But Claude Johnson was managing director 鈥� the branding expert who voiced the outlandish claim that they were making 鈥渢he best car in the world鈥�. So critical was his role, that Claude Johnson became known as the hyphen in the name Rolls-Royce.

I wonder if he was frustrated not to have his name immortalised like the others? Most of us like our name to be credited, especially by people we respect.

When we pray to God, we can rest assured our Creator regards us as more than an anonymous hyphen 鈥淔ear not, he says, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name. You are mine.鈥�

Thank you, Lord, that you know every name, because every human life is precious to You. Grant peace to those whose lives are under threat of war, in Ukraine and elsewhere. And when it feels as though my own contribution to this broken world is anonymous and without value, help me to find security and dignity in You. Amen.

Show less