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Good morning. Every so often I catch myself singing hymns I learnt in primary school. We always had firm favourites. Mostly it was to do with the tune. ‘I vow to thee my country all earthly things above’—I don’t suppose we had a clue what it meant, but we loved the gorgeous Holst melody.

Tunes are important, but for me these days, it’s at least as much to do with the words. Fight the good fight with all thy might! Now there’s a hymn that has meant a lot to me, particularly in my judo-playing years. Lay hold of life, and it shall be thy joy and crown eternally. Judo is a wrestling sport. It’s about getting a grip and throwing. So ‘Laying hold’ of life really resonated with me. I fought the good fight for many years. I was instinctively a defensive player, preferring to counter than attack. I went to gradings, I lost, I won, I progressed.

A couple of weeks ago I finally managed to do something brave. . I took my black belt out of my sportswear drawer, and put it in a display case for my study wall. I can now say I’ve finished. Judo is something I did, not something I do. I no longer need to fight. I’m slowly learning the art of not being defensive, not feeling under attack, and instead beginning to live my life undefended. It’s another verse from that hymn that resonates for me now:

Faint not nor fear, His arms are near,
He changeth not, and thou art dear;
Only believe, and thou shalt see
That Christ is all in all to thee. Amen.