The prodigal son was impetuous, selfish, self-centred. He wanted it all and he wanted it now. He stupidly squandered all he had – his wealth, his talents, his gifts. Deserted by his fair-weather friends, he spiralled into despondency, left to his own devices, meagre though they were. Humiliated, driven to despair, scratching through the mud for food, he likely considered suicide as the way out. Yet, at his lowest ebb, his thoughts turned to

Despite his belief in the love of God, Terry Lees admits he once harboured the feeling that he did not always deserve that love, that he was not worthy, nor had he earned it. Terry saw himself as a sinner and, in truth, unable to fully accept that God could love him unconditionally, unreservedly. Terry could look to the man on the Cross and feel forgiveness yet could not – or would not – fully understand the depth of the meaning of the

One of the teachings of Jesus is: “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” [Matthew 18:3]. When Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the temple to be presented, they met two elderly adults who were able to look at the world with the awe and wonder of children – Simeon and Anna, both of whom experienced God’s presence in the baby Jesus. In Silver Linings, Terry Lees