The last couple of posts have been about prayer – the frustrating kind, the empty kind. The kind where words don’t come, or where they come out tangled and sharp-edged. I wanted to say, as much to myself as to anyone else, that this is normal. That struggling with prayer doesn’t mean you’re doing itContinue reading “Lent 2026: Prayer – come as you are”
Tag Archives: prayer
Lent 2026: Prayer – when words fail
Yesterday I wrote about prayer that feels unheard. The kind that leaves us discouraged, wondering if anything is happening at all. I wrote about perseverance, about trust. If I’m honest, I was writing as much for myself as for anyone else. Today I want to write about another problem I know all too well: prayingContinue reading “Lent 2026: Prayer – when words fail”
Lent 2026: Prayer – can you hear me?
Let’s talk about prayer. After all, prayer is one of the central themes of Lent. And as Lent draws to a close, it feels like a good time to pause and explore it a little. Prayer is one of the pillars of the Christian faith. A Christian who doesn’t pray will likely find the journeyContinue reading “Lent 2026: Prayer – can you hear me?”
Lent 2026: Borrowed faith
Term has come to an end now, and one of the things I will miss most is saying morning prayer together. Not because I enjoy early mornings (I definitely do not!) but because there’s something about being held, and holding others, in prayer. Most of us will have times in our lives when faith feelsContinue reading “Lent 2026: Borrowed faith”
Lent 2026: Holy Clumsiness
Yesterday I wrote about Panda Theory, the idea that we are loved without having to earn it. I gave the advice to “be more panda”, but today I want to explore that a little further. Pandas are wonderfully clumsy creatures. They roll off platforms, fall out of trees, and, at least judging by the videosContinue reading “Lent 2026: Holy Clumsiness”
Lent 2026: Practice makes perfect(ish)
This evening I was playing for the college badminton team. We won the match 9–0, mainly because the other team failed to show up… Not wanting to waste the time, we played some friendly matches among ourselves instead. One thing that’s important to know about me is that I started playing badminton when I wasContinue reading “Lent 2026: Practice makes perfect(ish)”
Lent 2026: A prayer for wandering minds
The retreat I’m on this weekend is a structured retreat. There are brief talks/reflections gathered around the meals and worship, along with time set aside for silence and solitude, and fellowship. This morning brought a wonderfully rich reflection. Across the weekend we are spending time in the letter of Jude, and the focus today wasContinue reading “Lent 2026: A prayer for wandering minds”
Lent 2026: When silence isn’t quiet enough
Does anyone else find it can get noisy in their head? Lots of voices demanding attention. Deadlines. Stress. Self-criticism. Doubt. Shame. To-do lists. Exhaustion. Plans. Regrets. Expectations. Just a small snapshot of my mind on an average day. It can become cluttered and confusing, sometimes overwhelmingly so. And strangely, many of those voices tend toContinue reading “Lent 2026: When silence isn’t quiet enough”
Singing Faith, Sharing Hope
I’ve just returned from a week in Taizé, the community of brothers in France who welcome thousands of young people and pilgrims each year. This was my second visit – different from the first, and yet somehow the same. Different people, same God. Different theme, same rhythm. Different worries, same peace. As I journey home,Continue reading “Singing Faith, Sharing Hope”
Lent 2025: The Picnic Basket and the Cluttered Table
Yesterday’s reflection took me to a familiar verse—one I’d already chatted about last week in a conversation about prayer. Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heartsContinue reading “Lent 2025: The Picnic Basket and the Cluttered Table”
The Reason for my Hope Blog 