At this time...THIS time.

Was Esther going to do what Mordecai asked her, and go to see the king even though she wasn't allowed to? He didn't wait to find out: "When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: ‘Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?’"  Esther 4:12 - 14

Esther now has a decision to make: does she believe Mordecai, or does she think that she, as queen, will be protected? Will she risk the king's displeasure and thus her royal position? Or is she, too, now facing death? No doubt there would have been many at court who were jealous of her and would have insisted that the king's orders be followed.

Or perhaps she recognised the truth of Mordecai's words: that everything that had happened to her so far (taken from her family to the harem and then being actually chosen as queen) was to put her in the perfect position to plead for the lives of her family and her fellows.

"And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this."  Famous words. But God puts us all into our circumstances for good reasons. What can I do today to take a stand for justice, peace and love? Who am I placed to talk to, to demonstrate God's love to?

Quite often - especially at the moment, as we face retirement and changes in our lives - I find myself absorbed in plans for a future which may never happen. Which probably won't happen the way I expect it to, anyway. So planning and looking ahead is all well and good, but not at the expense of the present. Here is a challenge, to look at MY present circumstances with fresh eyes and take courage to speak out, to act.

"If not me - who? If not now - when?"