Pilgrim's Progress

A Year of "Never Agains"

... 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz
... the tsunami disaster
... the launch of Make Poverty History

Is this to be the year of "never agains?" ... as far as it is in our power as a human race, never again will there be mass destruction of human life
... by evil genocide and the inaction of the world
... by our lack of readiness for natural disasters (or our destruction of the planet)
... or preventable poverty and injustice - there is enough to go round

This task belongs to all of us without exception.

Lord, let it be ...

A Year to Make History

Surely this has to be an unprecedented opportunity
to make a serious dent in global poverty?

To add a white band to your blog or website, visit Make Poverty History and scroll to the foot of the page.

Unite Us

Unite Us: A Prayer for Unity

Sometimes we peer across the divides
In mutual incomprehension:
Lord, forgive us, and unite us.

Sometimes we will not cross barriers,
But prefer to guard our territory:
Lord, forgive us, and unite us

Sometimes the comfort of the known place
Overcomes our desire to explore new ground:
Lord, forgive us, and unite us.

Lord, you prayed that your disciples would be one
As you and your Father are one:
Lord, let your Kingdom come.

I wonder what barriers we are being called to break through in our own situations right now? Maybe it's our move ... another image, this time to express the tension of unity: two groups, peering at each other - perhaps wanting to be one, perhaps being afraid of joining together, perhaps even being hostile, but finding there are barriers to cross first.

Revive Us

REVIVE US: A Prayer for 2005

Lord, will you not revive us again,
That your people might rejoice in you?

Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,
That his glory might dwell in our land.

The Lord will indeed give what is good,
And our land will yield its harvest.

This image came to me as I was praying from Psalm 85 again just recently - a Psalm that "followed me round" last year and voiced a deep longing for more of God ... a longing for God's reviving presence to fill us and overflow to the world around ... more Lord!

Make it Count

The tsunami disaster, plus the sudden death over Christmas of a local vicar, aged 52, have left me with a strong desire to really make this year count. How to live this year in a way which will have echoes in eternity? How would we live differently if we knew this was our last year on earth?

I want to look back on this year and be able to say "it was a year well spent" ... how do you want to spend yours?