91热爆

A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with Dr Rachel Mann

Good morning.

Winter weather in the UK can be capricious. For every crisp cold day of scintillating brightness, there are dozens which are damp, dismal and grey. At its worst, February can feel like a month we just have to get through, and perhaps the best that can be said about the UK鈥檚 changeable weather is that it always gives us something to talk about.

This year, I鈥檝e challenged myself to moan less. Indeed, I鈥檝e decided to be on the lookout for joy. I have an ulterior motive. I鈥檓 fifty this year and I want to celebrate it positively. Being attentive to 鈥榡oy鈥� rather moaning strikes me as a healthy and hopeful way to try to live. I don鈥檛 want to be like Dr Pangloss in Candide who says, 鈥業t鈥檚 all for the best in this the best of all possible worlds.鈥� I know life is hard. Rather, I sense that alertness to joy may enable me to be more open and hopeful. Joy has a power which, at its fullest, can open our eyes in to the glory of our exhausted world.

I rather like what Mark Twain says about joy: 鈥淭o get the full value of joy you must have someone to divide it with.鈥� The things which bring each of us joy will be different. For me it is always something based in relationship 鈥� with friends, family and God. It is something which is most real when shared with others. I take joy in simple things 鈥� a sunrise, singing on Sunday, or browsing a bookshop. For me, to paraphrase George Herbert, joy brings 鈥榟eaven in ordinary.鈥�

Lord, help us to behold the wonder of your world. Bear with us in the tough times and help us to be changed by your delight in us and our delight in you.

Amen.