麻豆约拍

A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day with the Rev Carolyn Skinner.

Good morning.

This week Birmingham will be the centre of attention for many around the globe as it hosts the 22nd Commonwealth Games. The Games have always been known as the friendly games and the event is renowned for inspiring athletes to compete in the spirit of friendship and fair play. Athletes with a disability are included as full members of their national teams, making the Commonwealth Games the first fully inclusive international multi-sport event. I have always loved that about the Commonwealth Games, and I鈥檓 looking forward to serving there this fortnight. When I served as a chaplain at the 2014 Games in Glasgow I really did sense that friendly, inclusive spirit.

In a world which is filled with division between nations and between neighbours, there is much we can learn from the friendship and values promoted by the Games. Friendship is something which requires effort and investment but brings so much joy in return. God knows our desire to be known and to be loved. We were made for relationship.

We often treat relationships as consumers: we befriend for the benefits we receive. But like a contract, when the relationship doesn鈥檛 give us the goods we want, we leave.

But the Bible shows us that real friendship is more covenantal than contractual. The book of Proverbs tells us that a true friend loves at all times.

Loving God, thank you for giving us friends to do life with. I pray that you would be present in our friendships, that you would be drawing us together in deeper community with one another. I pray that you would help heal any places of brokenness or discord and that you would restore any friendships that have fallen apart.

Amen