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Good morning. The first book in Philip Pullman’s new trilogy, The Book of Dust, was published yesterday and is due to be read on Radio 4 tomorrow. As Pullman’s first trilogy sold millions of copies a good number of people will be looking forward to the new one. I have not get far into my copy yet, but I am particularly looking forward to following the life of Lyra, the spirited young Oxford girl. One of the most vivid images in Philip Pullman’s first trilogy was that of the alethiometer. It comes from a Greek word, meaning truth. As Lyra and her friend Will grow up they, like all of us have some difficult decisions to make. But they have help, this truth meter, which guides them into making wise decisions. It’s a really great idea, for every day we make scores of decisions, from minor ones like what to wear or eat to major ones such as what job to do or relationship to develop. The frightening thing is that these decisions have consequences for the rest of our lives, not just for ourselves but for others as well. One of the major themes of the book however, is that growing up means taking responsibility for one’s own decisions. When the children reach early adolescence, Lyra finds to her dismay she can no longer use the alethiometer to help her find her way. She now has to decide for herself. She is told “You read it by grace . . . and you can regain it by work”. In answer to the question how long this will take, she is told a lifetime. But your reading will be even better then, after a lifetime of thought and effort, because it will come from conscious understanding. Grace attained like that is deeper and fuller than grace that comes freely.1 This passage resonates with me because it points to a dilemma right at the heart of the New Testament. Jesus said he would give his followers the spirit of truth. So we do have a guide, a source of inspiration and grace. (John, 16,13) Yet Paul wrote “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” At the same time however he added “ for it is God who works in you.” In short working hard to make the right decisions, thinking rationally, honestly, without self-deception, taking others into account, is for a Christian the work of God in us. And it’s interesting that Pullman in his strongly secular terms makes a similar point, and indeed uses the same word, grace. This way, he says, comes a deeper and fuller grace. 1 The Amber Spyglass, p520