VICAR

Dear Readers of Country Squire Magazine I trust that You and Your families are healthy and well.

This week I would like to draw Your attention to violence and its futility. On a day when two bombs at a Roman Catholic cathedral in the southern Philippines have killed 27 people and injured dozens more; the morning after a man was slashed in the face at a Milwall-Everton match.

As I discovered at a recent Speed Awareness Course, taking a deep breath and allowing for the stupidity of tailgaters and other selfish drivers prevents your own blood pressure rising and stops you from breaking the law.

This week there are threats of delaying Brexit or even abandoning Brexit. There will be palpable anger if either of these two options occurs. Who would have thought a few years ago that MPs are talking today in 2019 of “loading their shotguns“.

Let us remember who we are, take a deep breath and plough on.

Just as I was taught that the car zooming past on the motorway will get caught at the same traffic lights further down the road, so we must all remember that a deep breath is sometimes a good idea but actually not that necessary in the grand scheme of things.

I wish You all a wonderful week ahead. Stay peaceful. God Bless.

Dear Heavenly Father, when I look at the circumstances of my life and at the world around me, there are many reasons to worry. Many reasons to fear. Many reasons for unrest. But when I look at You, all else fades away. When I remember Your unfailing love, Your unsurpassed wisdom, Your unending goodness, and Your unequalled power, I can’t help but be at peace with this God on my side. It’s in the name of my Savior and Source of peace, Jesus Christ, that I pray. Amen.