12/05/2026
'About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, ‘Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.’ (from Acts 22)
This morning, after serving breakfast to our guests, I sat down with them for a brief chat and cuppa. This is something that I love to do but don't always have the chance. During conversation, I suddenly spotted a sheep struggling & flinching on the hillside behind the House of Prayer. It's lamb was standing next to the ewe but she wasn't letting it suckle. I noticed that the sheep had got itself tangled in barbed wire and fencing. I went out to see to it - my approach to the sheep unsettled it more, and with a big pull it freed its woolly coat from the barbed wire and made off, its lamb in tow. I watched it for a few minutes, no wound, no further issue, lamb suckling again...all back to 'normal'.
On reading today's scripture from Acts it made me think of that sheep being bound to the barbed wire, stuck, perhaps frightened and in discomfort. The reading tells us that Paul and Silas had their bindings cut and the prison doors unlocked. The power of the Holy Spirit. The guard responsible for watching over them was about to take drastic action fearing his reputation/consequences. But Paul stopped him and the reading continues that the guard and his family were converted to the Lord.
What binds you and I today? What is tying you in knots, causing knots in your stomach or making you feel stuck against the barbed wire? May you find confidence to take any worry to Our Lord, and with that confidence ask for healing, comfort, grace, forgiveness, direction, peace, mercy. And if we are feeling that all is 'fine' with us.....is there a neighbour or friend who might need a friendly word to help unbind them from loneliness or problems? As we know, a problem shared is a problem halved, so-to-speak. Perhaps it's a simple smile or nod to a stranger we pass in the street or supermarket....
Blessings,
Jane
Pictures are from my arrival at work when the sheep are all around the House; and a ewe with her twin lambs near where the stricken ewe was.
No sheep (nor the warden) were harmed!
