It seems hard to believe, that the midway point of the year is approaching, our days are so much longer now, as we enter June and summer begins, but still time seems to rush on and there is never enough time to get things done. On the 21st June we will celebrate the longest day of the year. I always feel there is something a little disappointing in the fact that no sooner has summer begun than the days begin to get shorter! But then I take heart in the fact that, for a while at least, the evenings continue to lengthen, it’s just that it gets light later in the morning … when most of us are fast asleep anyway and so, for a time we hardly notice. We also celebrate Father’s Day in June. This year, I am treating my father, to something I don’t think either of us in our wildest imagination ever thought would happen, I still can’t quite believe it! I will be preaching at Evensong in St. Pauls Cathedral. My dad is rather proud and looking forward to being there, I am incredibly nervous and just praying I don’t make a complete fool of myself. Whilst it is of course a privilege to be able to preach, or indeed to do anything in such an amazing place as St. Pauls Cathedral, it is so far out of my comfort zone it all seems rather crazy. But I take comfort in the fact it is happening on Father’s Day. Although Father’s Day is not a church festival, it is a good day to be reminded of the father love of God. And I am reminded of a conversation with my father just a few weeks ago, when talking about the St. Pauls service, I was saying how I felt far too inadequate to be doing this, I was saying how I am just a rural parish priest, and he said, but you are far more than that, you are my daughter. Whatever our experience of earthly fathers, to our heavenly father, we are always far more than the sum of what we believe we are, be it parish priest, company director, or hospital cleaner. We are sons and daughters of God, we are loved more than we can ever comprehend, by the one who created the heavens and earth. As a beloved child of God, and of my own earthly father, I will stand in St. Pauls Cathedral on the 18th June, my knees will be knocking, but I will remember that all I do is in the service of my heavenly father who strengthens me. That same heavenly Father is there for each one of us. May God bless you Heather
