I was thinking of the gospel reading of the 19th Sunday in the year. When I awoke with worry again and again during the week, the words came back – not to haunt, but to console me.

Jesus said to his disciples: “there is no need to be afraid, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Luke 12:32 – 48

“There is no need to be afraid, little flock” are the words which come back to me over and over again.

We cycled 28 miles from Padstow to Bodmin and back. The route is flat. We glided over the ground, eating the miles with such ease and speed past the wide, sunny estuary with its boats, to the narrow woodland path under dripping trees.