Dear God,

 

I am afraid of brokenness, but I am more afraid of being healed so that I must face sharing this closeness with all those who are poor and unrecognised, those who have nothing and will always have nothing. And when the work of Your birth ends, then the work begins - with the homeless, the rejected and the disenfranchised.

 

Help my fear and allow the peace that abides with You to pervade the hollowness of all empty lives and fill them with the light of Your joy.

 

Amen

 

Action for the week Make yourself available to listen to people's problems, concerns and anxieties    OR   Turn your ‘busyness' into a gift of 50p every time that you make an excuse instead of giving someone your time

 

Project of the Week Maundy Relief aims to meet the needs of those who have fallen through the net of all formal social care, by providing a comprehensive support package. This ranges from food parcels, clothing, bedding, curtains, baby food and nappies to micro grants, homelessness packs, emergency accommodation and a 24-hour listening service.   Fact: People from poor homes have a lower life expectancy, as well as greater likelihood of bad health, mental illness, unemployment and low educational achievement (www.poverty.org.uk)