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Good morning. A little while ago I wrote a small children’s story book. It was all about an owl, and it was written for a children’s cancer charity. The book was intended to raise funds, but also to help children talk about love, loss and bereavement. Of course, a children’s story book is nothing without pictures – so I put out a plea for illustrators to help me. First one, then two, then three all stepped up to offer their skills for free. After them, a book designer stepped in. All it took then was for a lovely printer to offer to publish it for free and within an astonishing 66 days the little story was born.

Since then a producer has recorded an audio version and a composer has written music to go with it. I have not mentioned the name of the charity or the book, because that is not really the point. The point is that every single one of these people has donated their time and talents for nothing. The needs of children frightened by serious illness and the needs of their families were quite enough to unlock this great stream of talent and generosity. Every time I undertake projects such as this, I am reminded that there is far more goodness to the human spirit than we might believe. It sits there just under the surface, waiting to be tapped – like an unseen aquifer in a dry and barren land. The trick is knowing how to release it. I believe that whenever we do so the glory of God, who made humankind ‘in his own image’ is released.

O God, who made us to be like yourself, thank you for the goodness within each person we shall meet today. Help us to look hard and find it within ourselves and within those around us. Amen