A few weeks ago I went to visit The Sanctuary in Ilkley.   It is simply a place to pray for the world set up by two women who felt called to leave their jobs, move hundreds of miles and set it up.  It isn’t fancy or complicated – but it glows with integrity and faithfulness.   A cup of tea is always available for anyone who wants to come in a join them in expressing love for the world.  I won’t attempt to tell their story here  (but if you’re interested you can find it on their website : http://www.thesanctuarycentre.org )

What impressed me almost more than anything about The Sanctuary was its smallness.  Liz and Jill are extremely gifted and creative people.  They really should be famous- but instead they are faithfully drawing others to join them in expressing love for the world in a small space in a small town, resisting the urge to think that something bigger would be better.  I like that.

I also like ninja angels.  This was an idea sparked in a discussion of a group of young people several years ago who wanted to find ways to do random acts of kindness.  It could have been just a great idea but they put it into practice.  And it usually wasn’t random.  It was showing love and encouragement to people in situations of real need without looking for any thanks or acknowledgment.  It was selfless love, God’s love.  (You can find them on twitter @Ninja_Angels)

Inspired by them, I still try to pass the ninja angel spirit on, when I remember to make time for it, whether it’s a note or chocolate or something else.  The other week, I sent a ninja angel to my hairdresser in the post after she told me about some heartache.  (Is it just me, or do hairdressers tell you things like that, too?)

This is actually a lot of fun but it won’t change the world.  Or will it?  Small acts of love, the decision to look beyond our own concerns, joining with God in filling the world with messages of hope…  Could something as small as that change the world?