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44 Phonebox Magazine | November 2025CALL 01933 667575FREE DELIVERYWITHIN 15 MILES WS6074 READY TO BURNLOW MOISTURE BRITISHORDER ONLINE NOWFIREWOODKILN DRIED Quality Hardwood Quality Softwood Kindling Nets Hardwood & Softwood Nets. Firelighters Locally Sourced SustainableQuality Hardwood Quality Softwood Kindling Nets Firelighters Locally sourced Sustainable Firelighters Locally sourced SustainableNEWPORT PAGNELLI am a great fan of a travel %u2018YouTuber%u2019 who rides around the world on her motorbike. Apart from enjoying the amazing scenery that she drives through, it is always a heart-warming watch as she is nearly universally welcomed wherever she goes, free meals, cups of teas and also numerous photos of this strange white woman on a motorbike.While, undoubtedly, our world is full of real horror and violence (I write this only days after the attack on the Synagogue in Manchester) humanity also has great capacity for good. For the generous hospitality my favourite YouTuber experiences. As a Christian I fi rmly believe that each of us is made in the image of God and that within each one of us the light of Christ shines. It may be hidden so deeply that hardly a fl icker of light comes through, like a glass jar that is so dirty the light is almost entirely hidden. But it is there, and there is always the possibility that it can shine through and if we look hard enough we can usually spot it in most people. We are living in very polarising times when we can be drawn into tribal groups, viewing the %u2018other%u2019 as something frightening and dangerous. Social media can stoke the fi res and all of us can retreat into our safe groups unwilling to engage with or listen to anyone who is not from %u2018our side%u2019. I believe that in such times, more than ever, we are all called to be peacemakers and bridge builders in our community so that together we help build a safe and welcoming place regardless of ethnicity, identity, gender or faith. There is a line from the Bible, from a letter written to the early Christian community in Ephesus, that is a good reminder of how we are all called to live. %u201cBe completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.%u201d Ephesians 4We must bear with each other in love whoever we are, knowing that we are all children of God, whatever our politics, our race, our gender or faith and we are called to live the way of love, challenging hate, welcoming all and building communities of unity, not discord.Revd Ruth Maxey, Newport Pagnell United Reformed Church, Newport PagnellChurches TogetherOLNEYThe apocryphal story is told of an argument that broke out one day between the Sun and the North Wind as to which of them possessed the greatest power. In order to settle this argument they decided to focus their power on a man who at that point was walking up a country lane while wearing a long coat in order to protect himself from the elements. The Sun and the North Wind agreed that whichever of them was able to remove the man%u2019s long coat would be the winner of their contest.The North Wind began the contest with great confi dence and focused all his power on the unsuspecting man below. Such was the power of the North Wind that the man struggled to remain standing and so was unable to continue his journey. This was however not his only problem for the North Wind had also caused him to feel extremely cold. This resulted in the man not taking off his coat but rather wrapping it around him ever tighter in order to keep out the cold. This situation continued for some time until the Sun interrupted the North Wind and said %u2018you have failed now it%u2019s my turn%u2019. At that moment the Sun came out from behind a cloud which had been shielding the man below from the full force of his power. The Sun began to shine down on the man with all his might until the man was surrounded by brilliant sunlight. This also had a side eff ect where the man became increasingly hot and so took off his coat in order to complete his journey in comfort. We have all had those experiences in life and perhaps are having them now where we feel that the North Wind is blowing against us and so wrap our coat around us in an attempt to protect ourselves from what we are going through. This however only results in us behaving like the man in the story who ends up trying desperately to fi nd warmth in the midst of a storm while being unable to continue his journey. What some of us need at this moment is to feel the deep heat of the Sun penetrate into our lives through the understanding and love of others whether family or friends. For it is when we begin to feel the warmth of love that we start to open our lives to others and take off our coats of protection and so begin to live in a better and more positive way. Rev Stuart J. Macdonald, Minister Olney Baptist Church. 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