Last mile is upon us; I'll carry you if you fall

I've been missing the outdoors lately; the freedom, the air, the noises, the sun and rain, the peace, the connection with a wider world, the people that walk by, the prayerfulness, the breeze...

But what has stopped me being outdoors? It's not that I'm too busy, because, well, I'm not. It's more that I've just been a bit useless at motivating myself to do much. Today, though, I decided I would try to resurrect some of my motivation.

I didn't go far, just down through my local park, picked up the newspaper at the shop, walked by the church and back up the road again. It's amazing how much there is to take in within such a small radius from outside our own front doors. Do you realise what's out there? Sometimes I forget and it's important to remind myself at times.

"Beauty is within in grasp,
Hear the islands call
The last mile is upon us
I'll carry you if you fall
I know the armour's heavy now
I know the heart is tired
It's beautiful just over
The wild mountainside.
Wild and free we roam
Only a mile to go."

The line "I'll carry you if you fall" feels so important to me right now. There are times when being with the people you really want to be with just isn't possible, for whatever reason that is. But can we still carry them if they fall, hold them and support them? Yes, we can. Love is a powerful thing and if used well it can do just that - it can carry those who need carried.

"In everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."