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A reflection and prayer to start the day with the Revd Dr Craig Gardiner

Good morning.

A few years ago, the Cardiff born author Layla Saad searchingly asked the world of Twitter, ‘how might we become good ancestors?’ That question of how we’ll be remembered is one many of us ask, in our own way, during moments of introspection. ‘What have we done to make the world a better place?’

This week in Wales, much of the attention is focused upon the National Eisteddfod, gathering in the town of Tregaron. It’s a festival not just of performances and competitions, but one where the rituals of history interweave with the future possibilities of science and technology, politics, education, minority rights and more. So, no doubt generations to come will ask who has made significant contributions to the country and what has been their legacy?

The folk of Tregaron have their own guide to help with this: a statue which dominates the town square, remembers one of their own ancestors, Henry Richard. In the 19th century Richard was ordained as a congregational minister and later became an MP who vigorously represented local and wider Welsh interests. At a time when slavery was still legal, he was an ardent abolitionist, he was a pioneer in further education and his work on the international stages of diplomacy gained him the impressive reputation as the ‘apostle of peace.’

That is surely a worthy epitaph.

Richard’s legacy is to pass on to us the tradition of the psalms to ‘seek peace and pursue it.’ He continues the practice of Jesus who breathes peace upon his disciples, and he rises to St David’s appeal to his followers, ‘Keep your faith, and do the little things that you have seen and heard with me.’

Dear God
May we learn today
To keep the faith
and become ancestors of peace
of justice and joy,
an inheritance gifted to all who come after us.
Amen