I was joining in with St Stephen’s church Zoom prayers a few mornings ago when I spotted some goldfinches in the top of one of my neighbour’s trees. We have small city gardens, but next door have planted a few trees in their space, which encourage all kinds of birds.  

So I turned off my video, picked up a small pair of binoculars that sit on my desk for the purpose, and looked at the birds for a moment.  They are such beautiful little finches, and seeing them always brings me joy.   Then I went back to prayers and a different kind of encouragement….   But when, at the end of the day, I was thinking of three things to be thankful for, that moment with the goldfinches was the first I thought of. 

Sometimes one moment of joy is enough to light up a grey day and carry us through. 

Photo: Ian Wilson