The Revd Alastair McCollum. Picture by Terry Ife ref mhv 8783-09-11TI

‘I’m a late developer’.

I’m nearly at the end of the Harry Potter books. Yes, I know, I’m a late developer in this respect, but first time around I gave up at book four and have only restarted by reading a chapter with my daughter every evening over the past few months.

Now we’re on book seven and, I must confess, I don’t want it to end - partly because I’ve enjoyed the story and partly because I’ve enjoyed reading to my little girl, who isn’t so little any more!

All good things come to an end, though, and this story draws to its inevitable conclusion. Sometimes I do wish good things would go on and on and bad things would disappear quickly, but I know that even with God alongside me in everything I don’t get to escape life’s troubles - instead I trust in the God who loves me and is with me always.