Tonight, Matthew, I'm going to be a pessimist.

I consider myself to be an eternal optimist. I am convinced it's something I have inherited, which is surprising because my dad's pessimistic tendencies have been the source of much, much amusement in our family. Approximately four months ago, he famously declared to my sister "your rabbit is going to die soon" for no apparent reason other than the dog had been put down earlier that week. The fact that the rabbit is still alive today only adds to this hilarity & his embarrassment. Yet this example aside, both my parents possess a great degree of resilience & have, thankfully, passed this onto my sisters & me.

However, on this evening, I find myself defeatist about a situation I so desperately desire to be able to control. I shall explain. After having what the delicious Miss Dahl would refer to as a "selfish" day, consisting of the gym, dentist, reading & a garden centre, I settled down to do some planning for my role as prayer sec. Armed with books about prayer, my journal, a pen, paper & clipboard (staple item for secretaries & geographers), I nestled into the front room sofa. I would like you all to note, & convict myself as I do so, the ironic absence of my bible. Not cool. Anyway, the more I delved deeper into prayer & my own ambitions & desires for the Christian Union, the more I got frustrated. Frustrated that I can't make people care. Frustrated that I don't care enough. Frustrated that any plan I seem to be able to conjure, also seems to just be another evening or meeting for them to take out of their already busy weeks. THEN, I had a brainwave - prayer accountability. Yes, good one, Lucy! You can meet up with people, send them texts, encourage them to pray (& make sure you've got the most contagious prayer life, of course) Yes, this is it. This will single-handedly solve the apathy, bring about revival (& all of Swansea University will be saved) & I'll get a shout-out cause I started this all, right?

Wrong.

So, so wrong.

First & foremost, I made it about me. Secondly, I'm not convinced that official accountability is my remit & even if I made it so it was, does that mean it should be? Surely, ideally, this is where the Churches come in. So, Churches, where are you & what are you doing about the prayer life of your congregation? Answers on a postcard, please.