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A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with Major Anne Read

Good morning

Today my husband and I celebrate 100 years of marriage – well I exaggerate of course, but it seems a long time ago that my husband proposed by the side of the Thames below Tower Bridge among the romantic ruins of abandoned warehouses. Today the area is unrecognisable with its shops and restaurants and expensive homes.

But this area of pleasant memories for me has an unhappy history.

In times past London was the epicenter of the slave industry. Thousands of people taken captive in West Africa, packed tightly into the holds of ships for endless weeks, were brought here to be traded as slaves. Having survived this horrendous journey, they sailed slowly up the river to be unloaded, just like any other cargo, another commodity to be traded. Although London's docks have changed beyond all recognition this trade in human beings continues in cities, towns and countryside across Britain and around the world.

From the beginning The Salvation Army has worked to set people free from the evil of slavery. and with others we continue this fight today.

To the Psalmist marveling how God could possibly be mindful or engaged with his human creation came the insight that all humankind, created a little lower than the angels, had been crowned with glory and honour, being made in the likeness of God. For this reason human beings must never be treated as commodities to be traded, bought and sold as slaves; for every human being is of immeasurable value to God the objects of his endless compassion and engaging care.

God, help us to recognise the worth you place on us and to see the worth in others.

Amen

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