When A Knight Won His Spurs

When a knight won his spurs in the stories of old
He was gentle and brave he was gallant and bold.
With a shield on his arm and a lance in his hand
For God and for valour he rode through the land.

There have always been battles and wars – so this metaphor is well used and understood.

Those with a church background have read Bible stories about battles, generals, victories and defeats; God’s on the side of his people. We ‘put on the armour of God’, we’re ‘fighting against principalities and powers’…

Recently we’ve fought Covid with social distancing and vaccines; we’ve fought racial prejudice with Black Lives Matter and demonstrations…

In the last week there’s been raised awareness of the battle against the abuse of women; ’Gay conversion therapy: What the Church and LGBT community can agree on’  headlined another battle many are involved in.

No charger have I, and no sword by my side
Yet still to adventure and battle I ride,
Though back into storyland giants have fled
And the knights are no more and the dragons are dead.

Musing on: ‘Why did you stay among the campfires to hear the whistling for the flocks?’ (Judges5:7)… Israel had gone to war; some stayed at home…

We all have battles we can fight – domestic abuse, poverty, hunger, bullying, unemployment, addictions, injustice…

Some of us are weary. We’re aware of destructive forces but we’d rather sit round our campfires…

But…. We can be alongside those feeling weak and help-less fighting their giants, dragons and ogres; those lonely and isolated, trapped in their castle of darkness.

And whatever the battle we can bring faith, joy, freedom and truth.

Let faith be my shield and let joy be my steed
Against the dragons of anger the ogres of greed.
And let me set free with the sword of my youth
From the castle of darkness the power of the truth.