Thought for the Day

As delivered at BBC Radio Bristol this morning:

From a very early age I can recall having a profound sense of gratitude that I lived in England. I meet, and respect, people with the travel bug - but I don't have it. I like it here and have to be dragged abroad for holidays where insects bite and the sun burns.

England's not too hot and not too cold so the colour of the landscape is green and pleasant. Not too frozen; not too scorched.

It's not too high and not too low so most of it is habitable and little of it floods. Yes Somerset, I know some of it does.

That temperature again means we have few dangerous critters or wild animals that try to kill, poison or infect you.

And we have good management of potential health hazards. It's a sanitary country.

Natural disasters are few and far between - hurricanes, tornadoes, becoming snowbound or forest fires are all pretty unusual.

Last night I was listening to the candidates for election to Parliament in my constituency set out their arguments. I remind myself that democracy is not a privilege all enjoy. I can disagree with the authorities without being jailed for dissent.

We celebrate food heroes because many of us live with a choice of meal.

So a respectful moment's thought, and perhaps a prayer, for those who have lost their homes, or friends, in earthquakes. For those who are threatened with death if they don't change their faith. For those who have no choice about their leaders.

We are lucky. Some might say blessed. And along with that comes a God-given duty to share. We should respond in gratitude. When you have a chance to give to relieve suffering, try and be generous.

Nobody Expects

It is easy to forget, in the hustle and bustle of an election campaign, that although Parliament has been dissolved there is still an administration running the country.

I would imagine, if there was anyone still doing any thinking in the government, that a contingency plan was drawn up as to what to do in the event of a major, national emergency during the campaign. You know; train crash, terrorism, outbreak of flu-scare or animal disease. That sort of thing.

Would anyone, anyone, have come up with the idea that a volcano in Iceland would cause us bother?

To stand for political office is to be ready to be in charge when that-which-we-didn't-expect happens. Good luck candidates.

'...what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?' (Psalm 8:4)