There is a time for everything – Andy Prescott
‘There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.’ –
Ecclesiastes 3:1
Recently, I’ve been sorting through my mother’s home—the house she lived in for 53 years. It has been a season of reflection, decision and emotion. Mum is now living with me and my family, where we can care for her much better than when she lived more than 200 miles away. We know we’ve made the right choice. And practically speaking, letting go of a house sitting empty halfway across the country removes a significant burden.
But the process of going through the house was far from simple. Each room held more than just possessions—it held memories. There were reminders of joyful childhood moments, family routines, long-gone loved ones and of the slow passage of time. Black-and-white photos, old keepsakes, letters from a different era—they stirred a mixture of gratitude and grief.
A while ago, I heard the comedian and singer-songwriter Tim Minchin speak about storytelling and meaning. He touched on the seven basic story archetypes—those foundational patterns that underpin nearly all narratives ever told. He referenced two musicals he wrote the music for: Matilda and Groundhog Day.
In Matilda, we see the ‘overcoming the monster’ story—Miss Honey, Matilda and others facing injustice, fear and cruelty. But it’s not just about defeating the monster; it’s about discovering courage and hope. In Groundhog Day, it’s a story of ‘rebirth’—the main character relives the same day repeatedly until transformation finally comes from within. Both stories reflect deep truths about how we grow, heal and change — often not by escaping our circumstances, but by allowing them to shape us.
Minchin points out that the world may be imperfect, but it contains all we need to be happy. However, he also added a challenge — if we simply sit by and do nothing while things deteriorate, we are complicit in the problem.
There is a tension here that many of us will recognise. Working hard to change something unchangeable can be exhausting and unwise. But standing by in the face of brokenness or injustice is not an option either. As with so much in life, we need to seek a balance: the courage to act, the grace to let go and the wisdom to know the difference.
This speaks directly to our work in Prison Fellowship. We can’t undo the past. We can’t fix the whole prison system. But we can show up — with letters, prayers, listening ears and hopeful words. We can walk alongside people as their own stories unfold — whether they are facing monsters, searching for transformation or simply needing to be reminded that God is still writing their story.
Ecclesiastes 3 reminds us there is a time for everything. A time to weep and a time to laugh. A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to speak and a time to be silent. God calls us to live attentively in each moment — not rushing ahead, not sitting back but moving in step with Him.
So, as I carry memories from my mum’s house into this next chapter and as we all continue our work through PF, may we stay rooted in that balance — neither grasping for control nor retreating in passivity. Just present, prayerful and open to what God is doing in and through us.
Loving God, thank You that You are present in every season — in endings and new beginnings, in memory and in hope. Help us act with courage where we can and rest in Your peace where we cannot. Help us to continue to walk wisely and faithfully with You. Amen.
Andy Prescott is Prison Fellowship’s Head of Fundraising and Communications
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