Thoughts of the Day this month are part of a special series in Epiphanytide, the time between Epiphany Sunday and Lent, during which we hear gospel stories of the growing faith of the disciples and of the revelation that Jesus is truly the son of God.
To mark this time, members of our congregation share stories of their own faith journeys and Epiphany moments that have inspired them and drawn them deeper into faith.
Thought and Prayer of the Day
by
Tom Willis
Music has a unique power to bring out the meaning in words. As a member of All Saints choir, I am fortunate that I can get to do that, through one of my great joys in life. I therefore find it ironic that when I’m singing words, I end up paying less attention to them, not more. Instead, I am focused on all the singing-related aspects—singing the right notes, singing them at the correct time, making sure all the letters are properly articulated, getting the volume right, listening to those around me, and trying to pay attention to Adriaan’s conducting. My brain is focused just on the current word, or maybe the next one. To actually understand the overall meaning of the words, I have to take time to read them when I’m not singing.
Reading a lesson is different for me. None of the Bible was written in modern English—or indeed, with any punctuation. The translations we use in the Anglican Church prioritise accuracy to the original meaning. The price of that is the reader must cope with very long sentences, filled with subordinate clauses and occasional tangents. (In my opinion, St Paul’s letters are particularly tricky in this regard). So, to work out where to take a breath or where the end of an idea is, I have to read the lesson repeatedly. And each time I do, something new always emerges—some idea or concept. That’s hardly unique to me—we get the same readings every year or three years, yet there’s always a brand-new sermon to go with them.
Mother Jennifer asked me to share a story related to Epiphany, about my own faith journey. I am not someone who can point to a specific personal moment or Epiphany in their life. Instead, I think my journey has often been more like my singing—focused only the current moment, or maybe the next. However, the occasions when I have taken time to stop and think, to consider, to look at things again—those are the times that have been most helpful in illuminating my path. Hopefully, I can do it more often.
Prayer
O Lord, grant us the patience to take time to reflect on all that you have taught us—through the words of the Bible, through the wisdom of those around us, and through the experiences of our own lives. Help to deepen our understanding of what you have taught, and then apply it to all that we say and do. Amen.
