Many years ago, at the gates of the nursery that both Ruth and Tim attended, we enjoyed many precious moments of fellowship with a special group of parents. (We are still in touch with them all!) Amongst them was Sue Harris, who I was delighted to invite to record this poem-prayer that celebrates the "sacrament of the present moment": a lovely concept which Jean Pierre Caussade coined as a phrase three hundred years ago.

Sue loves the Lord Jesus dearly, and we have paired her heart-felt recording with the music of one of Bach’s most beautiful Andantes, which Fontane Liang and Julia Herzog played for us on the harp and recorder.

The music feels somewhat delicate and slightly fragile, like a bluebell just lifting its head, and inspires us to dwell on the tenderness of the Lord’s moment-by-moment love for us – and to remind ourselves that no lack of faithfulness on our part, or 'road block' that we face along life’s way can ultimately keep us from His unconditional love, if we will but resolve to reach out to Him.

May this be a piece to which you often find yourself returning, and find in it fresh succour and sweetness in the Lord. It is beautiful.

Jesus, whatever the flavour that seasons this season
You are the same, yesterday, today and forever.
Your table is set, and Your voice is calling:
‘Come and eat and drink with Me.’

As each new day gifts me with fresh occasions to sing Your praise,
Nothing changes the essence of Your unceasing love.
I say, ‘Good morning, Lord,’ and dedicate myself anew,
resolved to live for You. (2 Cor.5:9)

Your love is purer than a lily;
more tender than the fragrance of bluebells on the Malvern Hills;
more far-reaching than the longest radio beam;
more intent than a hunter on its prey.

When the seasons collide in seeming chaos and confusion,
let me fold my heart around this thought and hold it close:
that although the past is the past, it is more than ‘just’ the past;
we lived and shared it together, Lord, so it is no longer only mine but ours.

As for the future, Lord, that is Yours to decree:
I simply pray it may assume a God-given hue.
I commit to You now the one and only thing I can:
the sacrament of this present moment –
this outward sign of an inward grace.

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