Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob,
    little Israel, do not fear…

Do you ever consider yourself to be worm-like: small, insignificant, not particularly attractive, largely unnoticed and under-appreciated? You’re often overlooked and regularly trodden on (or so it seems to you).

Well take heart. I have just watched a video of a short child’s science programme entitled ‘Worms are wonderful.’ The animated female presenter exclaimed, ‘Worms are super-cool’, and, she added, ‘Next time you come across one, thank them! They keep the soil healthy, and that in turn keeps the plants healthy, so we keep healthy.’

Worms, while not being all that glamorous in the popular imagination, have a vital role to play in a delicate, and wonderful, natural eco-system. Most of their work takes place underground, away from the public glare. But it is essential.

May we realise today, how special it is to be a faithful presence in the ‘soil’ where God has placed us.