'As we rejoice in the gift of this new day …’ These words (from morning prayer) have stuck in my mind over the last few weeks; and they can, I think, be quite startling. On a sunny day in the vacation, it feels good to be reminded to rejoice, but what about when you know the day is going to be fraught and difficult, and you just want to get to the end of it? It can seem very strange, when tense and anxious, to be invited to rejoice – or at least it does to me. 

But sometimes that strangeness can jostle me out of my worrying, and help me see the day differently. See it as open to new possibilities and opportunities, new friendships, new ideas and experiences. See its moments as precious, and worth holding on to.

Last week was Harvest Festival, when we to pause for a moment to give thanks for creation, for the beauty of the earth and for all that sustains our lives here on earth. We also collected tins and toiletries to give to the Gatehouse, to help those in particular who are homeless or vulnerably housed. Harvest Festival reminds us of how good it can be to appreciate what we have and also to share it with others, rejoicing together in the days and in the places that God has made. With climate change worsening and uncertainty all around, perhaps the invitation to rejoice in each day can help us to keep working at the challenges we face, without losing hope. 

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