麻豆约拍

A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with Right Revd Mary Stallard, Bishop of Llandaff.

Good morning. Keeping track of all the things I need to remember can feel like a challenge. There are so many things I can get anxious about - tasks to do, dates to remember, things I need to sort out in my life or relationships. All the plate-spinning sometimes seems impossible and can feel overwhelming.

There are many tools available to help with this. A few weeks ago, at the beginning of the school term, the shops were full of planners and organisers to make it easier to coordinate all the things that need doing. There are also many online devices designed to jog our memories, boost productivity, and make it easier to keep on top of everything.

But even with so much help at hand I still sometimes struggle to hold everything in balance and to feel relaxed about my to-do lists.
An unexpected source of inspiration presented itself to me recently on a visit to a church: a poster near the entrance recommended that visitors leave their anxieties at the door, and expressed a hope that time spent in the building might instead offer an experience of blessing. I then heard an act of worship on the radio that began with the presenter inviting listeners to consider their time spent listening as an opportunity to feel blessed. These experiences reminded me of the words of the famous hymn, 鈥淐ount your blessings鈥� and of the nonreligious habit of keeping a gratitude journal to focus upon the positive aspects of life.

God of grace and mercy, be present with us in our ever-changing and uncertain world. Calm us when we feel anxious, may your peace and goodness speak to us more powerfully than our fears. May your love give us the courage we need. Amen.