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Good morning. I live in the southern part of Manchester, in a traditional 2 up 2 down red brick terrace. It means that instead of a garden I have a yard, a small concreted area that, with the help of my mum, I have been able to bring alive by the addition of pots and shrubs. It’s exciting watching things grow.

However, my ability to truly develop my green-fingered skills was at one time hampered by the large air raid shelter in my yard. Constructed in the 2nd world war, it’s walls were 4 bricks thick, with a reinforced concrete roof.

I’d long wanted to get rid of it, and had many friends who‘d offered to knock it down for me, that is until they really looked at it and realised just how solid it was. Finally in the last few weeks I found a builder who was willing to do the business. As I watched them take it apart, I got to see just what an awesome structure it was, and how hard it was to dismantle. I’m confident it would have done exactly what it was built to do.

We’ve heard a lot about safety in recent days – and witnessed the tragic results of things going wrong. Feeling safe is something we all need. And we do many things to try and make it so, strong buildings, burglar alarms, locks and more, but there isn’t an absolute guarantee in this world that these things will work 100% of the time.  The Psalmist writes: The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?
Lord God, in a troubled and uncertain world, thank you for those who work hard to keep us safe. Thank you for the safety and security we can find in you. Amen