Thought for the day (Page 137)

Every day we post a Thought for the day written by someone within the circuit. Some are very light hearted and some are very deep theologically with all bases between covered.

We hope these will encourage, uplift and make you reflect but most of all we hope you enjoy reading these small daily snippets and take some inspiration on your daily journey

“I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go” (Genesis 28:15)

Imitators of Christ

I have recently become more aware, that I am looking and sound more and more like my mother. It’s something we might look forward to or dread! My son is often referred to as a spitting image of his dad – indeed I have photos of each of them aged about 5, and it is…

The power of personal testimony

Imagine the pride and sense of achievement if you were only one of a dozen people to do something really impressive, something  that no-one else had ever done. James Irwin walked on the moon ! How’s that for a lifetime achievement ! All the more surprising is that James always wanted to be in the…

God, knows us.

Continuing my thoughts on the works of the Italian renaissance artist, Piero della Francesca brings me today to a small painting displayed in the tiny Tuscan village of Monterci ,close to the artist’s home of Sansepocro  For many years the fresco painting, Madonna del Parto was to be viewed in the small chapel of the…

Gold and Jewels ?

When the great ocean liner Titanic sank in 1912 it was rumoured to have gone down with a fortune in jewels and gold. That longstanding myth was dispelled, however, by the discovery of the ship’s manifest, which showed that the ship was carrying raw feathers, linen, straw, hatter’s fur, tissue, auto parts, leather, rabbit hair,…

Masking out the emotion

We had a lovely open air service during August and I learned that I needed to acquire yet another new skill thanks to the Covid experience, that of identifying members of the congregation, while wearing face masks.  The task was particularly difficult that particular day with some of our lady’s who were wearing big hats,…

God, close to us

The Italian renaissance artist, Piero della Francesca, was a civic councillor in Sansepolcro, Tuscany. His first commission for the town as an artist was his Baptism of Christ, which has found a home in the National Gallery, London. This is one of my all, time favourite paintings. It shows Christ being baptised by John with…

The joy of painting

What TV programmes in the height of Lockdown did you find helpful? One of the most popular was a 1970’s programme “The Joy of Painting” presentedby Bob Ross, a well-loved and inspirational presenter. Bob is an artist and his particular passion is landscapes. It was truly amazing towatch him take a blank canvas and turn…

The power of personal testimony

Police Inspector Barry Wright was not just a policeman at Scotland Yard, he was also an ordained priest in the church of England.. The odd thing, looking back to his early life, is that, even as a child, he wanted to be both a policeman and a priest but he didn’t know what to do…

Gazelle

In an article for the San Francisco Chronicle, Herb Caen wrote, “Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every day a lion wakes up. It knows it has to run faster than the slowest gazelle or it will starve…

God, alive in us

I find reflecting on various pieces of art to be very therapeutic and spiritual. I find the works of Italian Renaissance master, Piero de Francesca especially so. The Civic art gallery in the quiet Tiber valley town of Sansepolcro is home to one of my favourites. You can pay to enter the gallery but there…