Another week and another of Paul’s letters! This time we’ve been reading through Paul’s first letter to his younger, less experienced and less mature colleague, Timothy.

One of the things I’m glad to do in retirement as an ‘older and more experienced’ priest is to spend time with younger clergy colleagues as a mentor, seeking to encourage and nurture them in their ministries.  It’s a real privilege to sit alongside someone listening, asking questions and trying to help them to discover what the Lord may be saying about an issue they’re facing in their parishes or their walk with him … and I learn a lot too!

Paul writes to Timothy seeking to encourage and help him. It seems that, like us, Timothy sometimes lacks a little confidence, is uncertain about aspects of the faith or how to handle some tricky situations. Paul seeks not only to teach Timothy but also to build him up and strengthen his confidence in God. We all of us need that kind of support from one another and from God’s word. As we give and receive, we learn. I wonder whom we might encourage in their faith this week?

The Ven. Andy Piggott