Thoughts for the Day

Praise the Lord, O my soul!
I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God all my life long.

Do not put your trust in princes,
in mortals, in whom there is no help.
When their breath departs, they return to the earth;
on that very day their plans perish.

Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord their God,
who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith for ever......

The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
the Lord loves the righteous......

Praise the Lord!

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Years ago as a Diocesan Officer, I would run events for those working with children in parishes and schools. Subjects ranged from story-telling and craft sessions, to all-age activities. I also ran week-long sessions for prison chaplains working with those who couldn't read, and for clergy in other Dioceses. Some of the sessions involved trusting other people. I have a wonderful memory of getting prison officers to work together outside with this active-story:

• Leader: You are walking single file through impenetrable jungle on safari, when you come to a rope bridge over a ravine. At the other end is a warrior holding a large spear in a threatening manner. He shouts 'You must cross the bridge in height order, with the tallest first'.

The group have to do this without stepping off a line of tape. They cannot see more than one or two people ahead and must negotiate, while not under or over estimating their own height. Leaders need to trust others and allow all to help.

• Leader: Well done. Before you can cross the rope bridge, though, the warrior shouts: 'There is a second test. You must now line up in age order. You may not tell others your age!.'

This activity required a lot of trust with others in the activity, and Psalm 146 reminds us that only God is totally trustworthy. However, we can learn about trust by beginning to trust one another - by working together and negotiating with each other. This also helps us to learn about trusting God.

Heavenly Father,
Help us to learn to really trust You;
to ask for Your assistance;
and to trust that You have a plan for our life.
May we also learn to trust others
in our family and community
and to share our faith with them.
Amen.