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A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day with Bishop David Walker

Good Morning.

In mid 2020, at the height of the Covid crisis, the books in my study became briefly famous. For hour after hour, meeting after meeting, the camera on top of my computer broadcast an image of my head surrounded by very full bookshelves. For variety, I changed the display every couple of weeks, choosing themes from theology to crime novels. Inevitably, the week when I found myself facing a round of TV interviews coincided with my backdrop being entirely the distinctive yellow spines of Wisden鈥檚 Cricketer鈥檚 Almanack. The image went viral.

I love books. And because I love books, I am deeply grateful for the gifts, skills and hard work of those who write them. Today the Western Christian tradition commemorates St John, one of the original twelve apostles, to whose pen are attributed five books of the Christian New Testament. Only St Paul has more to his name, but unlike Paul, John does not confine himself to a single literary genre. Alongside three letters, he authored both an account of the ministry of Jesus and a book of apocalyptic visions. Perhaps of all the New Testament writers, he recounts the most powerful dialogue.

And so today, a day when many of us might have time to watch a TV drama, enjoy the voices on our radio, or curl up with a novel, I want to pray for all who write, professionally or just for fun.

God, you are the author of creation. We thank you for those gifted in writing: for novelists, poets and playwrights; journalists, scriptwriters; and those who labour at factual and academic prose. May we who read, watch, or listen to their efforts, be blessed through their skills. May we be informed, educated and entertained, that our lives may be thereby enriched.

Amen.