Actions speak louder than words, since actions reveal the intention behind those words. Our actions present evidence for our perspective. Yet, all our words and actions have consequences. Observing our family, we develop behaviour that takes years to change. It becomes our default setting, giving us numerous self-management issues. We can’t wipe the hard drive clean, but Jesus can overwrite it with kingdom code.

Gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit, one of nine. We don’t need to struggle to find them, they are a gift from God to every disciple. The struggle is in choosing and then learning to use them consistently and effectively. They are the language of God’s kingdom within our fragmenting world. Like Sam Van Aken’s tree of 40 fruits grafted onto a single tree, we too, grafted into God, produce these fruits.

Today there’s a growing demand for spiritual directors. A spiritual director does not give instruction or indeed direction, rather they’re a co-listener with God. The spiritual director is a witness alongside someone seeking to explore and express their encounter with God in whatever form or context they choose.

The National Lottery’s success suggests we desire to find shortcuts to realise our dreams. We assume wealth will deal with our problems. The same can be true of becoming a Christian, as we assume our troubles are over. True in part because we are now joined to the true source of life. However, favourable friendships can’t guarantee a pain free life.

How we live impacts who we become. Many pressures compete to shape our lives; job, family, home, etc. Such pressures can leave us feeling that our life is out of control, imprisoned on a hamster wheel of experience. When Jayne was growing up, she wondered why adults never ran everywhere.

We’ve all at some point worried that we’ve missed God’s will. Consequently, we often make no decision, and become immersed in temptation and sin freely. Unreliable in everything (Jas. 1:8), we can mistakenly think there is one golden ‘God-decision’, but for the love of heaven we can’t find it.

Making our way through life is distinct from finding our way in life. Regardless of circumstance or feelings, we intentionally navigate each day’s events. We turn holy aspiration into effective action, a process that always demands discipline. When we rely solely on our own understanding, we’re subject to the internal and external pressures of everyday life.

The Good Samaritan story (Luke 10: 25–37) teaches us that the designation ‘neighbour’ knows no boundaries. With busy lives we easily lose sight of anyone’s interest but our own. Church operates as a social space shared by any who want to participate in learning to love God and others.

Words present us with a powerful tool, one which we must take time to learn how to use to best effect. We easily misuse words to manipulate or abuse. In relationships we need to discover how to hear and to be heard.

There are many resources on prayer, expressing many different opinions and styles. Yet, Jesus only taught us one prayer, covering every eventuality in its appeal to God. It’s helpful to pray the Lord’s Prayer every day. We can become confused by what’s called unanswered prayer.