麻豆约拍

A reflection and prayer to start the day with the Rev'd Dr Craig Gardiner, a tutor at South Wales Baptist College.

Good morning.

Like many families during the pandemic, we welcomed a new puppy to our home. It was a joint decision: my son chose the furry friend he wanted, my wife picked the breed, and my daughter got to name her. So Amber, a fox-red Labrador came to stay, and I get to choose what walk we go on in the morning.

We like the nearby fields, where she can scamper up hills, plunge through the stream and cut through the buttercups which have grown taller in the last few weeks.

Watching Amber run reminds me of the film 鈥楥hariots of Fire鈥�. There鈥檚 an iconic scene where the runner Eric Liddell, is criticized for wasting time in sport when his sister thinks he should be a missionary. In response Liddell says, 鈥淚 believe God made me for a purpose, but He also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.鈥�

This is what we often call vocation. It is, as the poet Gerald Manley Hopkins writes, like when 鈥榢ingfishers catch fire鈥� and 鈥榙ragonflies draw flame鈥�. Amber echoes the poet鈥檚 insight as she runs, 鈥榮he acts in God鈥檚 eye what in God鈥檚 eye she is.鈥�

I wish it were so simple for us to know who we should be, but by naming it 鈥榲ocation鈥�, we remind ourselves, that it is God who calls us into being, God who summons us for a purpose. Whatever that may be, there are surely glimpses of it close at hand, fragments to be enjoyed in every day, moments when we know we鈥檝e felt God鈥檚 pleasure.

God who calls each of us into being:
You formed us,
fearfully and wonderfully

You search us and know us and give us purpose
Help us this day
To be in your eye what in your eye we are
To enjoy your presence and know your pleasure
Amen

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