Perspective

As I prepare for my final festival I reflect on the news. The refugee crisis (misnamed 'migrant crisis' by BBC and others) is escalating. The bodies of dead Syrian children are washed up on European beaches, hundreds sleep on a station platform, unable to use their tickets for freedom, bodies are discovered in sealed trucks, traffickers pocket huge profits from human suffering, politicians equivocate, as they do.

The worst humanitarian crisis since the second world war is unfolding on our screens, before our eyes; people of faith and good will do what they can with collections of money and essentials. Leaders argue over what can be done, claiming to act with public opinion, overlooking the clamour for compassionate action, overlooking what must be done, overlooking action against root causes in favour of short term populist expediency.

Today my Sabbatical topic seems a bit shallow: the thousands fleeing persecution, risking everything know little of popular culture yet they hold onto a deep spirituality.

Lord. may I never loose sight of the bigger picture of what is happening in your world, of our interconnectedness to all people, to all creation.

Thanks to Ruth Gee for this prayer that was posted by a friend on Facebook:

So small, so still
So beautiful in life
So unbearable in death
Carried by the sea
Carried by our tears
Carried gently in strong arms.

O God
Open the eyes of those with power
To see your children in their desperate need;
Open the arms of those in government
To welcome those who come to our shores;
Open the hearts of each one of us -
Move us to sorrow, anger and action
That the salt sea of sorrow
May be turned to soothing waters
And that tears of desperation
May become tears of joy.

O God help your people.