大象传媒

A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day with the Rt Rev Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, Bishop of Newcastle.

Good morning.

We鈥檝e just moved house, and I have spent much of the last couple of weeks unpacking boxes. Why is it that the thing I needed the most at short notice: the ironing board, happened to be in the last place I thought it would be? And why did I keep two broken hoovers?!

Leaving one place and learning to navigate a new landscape can take time. Moving from a rural village to a city has brought with it fresh discoveries and new sounds. It鈥檚 easy to feel lost, but I鈥檓 reminded that time and time again when displacement happens in the Bible, God steps in to show the way, or to speak in a still small voice (as the prophet Elijah discovered). When this doesn鈥檛 seem to happen (at least not in an obvious way), encouragement and compassion can still be found in a friendly neighbour who comes round with some chocolates and a card to say welcome to the neighbourhood, or a shop-owner who recommends a good place to get a take-away pizza (because we haven鈥檛 yet found all our pots and pans for cooking).

Moving has reminded me of the many things I take for granted in having a sense of place and home. Now I am reliant on the map on my phone in helping me find my way around. It鈥檚 making me pay attention to my new environment noticing its key features of geography and place names. features I hope I can be more in-tune with what that means in helping others find their way in life in good times and in challenging times. In that sense, I am perhaps less defined by location than I am by attitude: in other words, not by my possessions but by how I am in relationship to those around me.

God of time and place, strengthen me with your courage and wisdom that I might face this day with grace and hope.

Amen.