July is a busy month if you love sport. We have Wimbledon and the Women's Euros and test matches, plus the British Grand Prix. We are spoilt for choice. July is also a busy month for saints! We can take our pick from celebrating - St. Thomas, who gives us the courage to ask questions and to share our doubts; St. Benedict (a favourite of mine), who teaches us how to live with humility and gentleness; St. Mary Magdalene, who shows us that our Lord sees the good that lies within each one of us; and St. James, who was called alongside his brother John to be part of Jesus' core team (sadly, James was one of the first apostles to die for his faith). All inspiring characters just like the leading sports people.
If you could pick one of these to be your inspiration, who would you use? Who might be your role model or your source of hope when things go wrong or you struggle with life? Each one inspires me but, I think, if I could only choose one of them, it would be St. Benedict because of his rule: work - rest - pray, and his desire that we live more simply, welcome everyone and walk humbly with the Lord our God. Our world would be a truly wonderful place to live if we all followed these simple rules.
Do ponder his rules. Do ponder the rules that you like to follow in your daily lives. May we each be a blessing to those around us - friends and strangers alike.
God bless,
Revd Katrina