Is there no end to the disasters afflicting the human race at the moment? The hurricanes in the West Indies, now approaching the US (my mind goes back to the memorable holiday Les and I had in Antigua in 2014); the earthquake in Mexico; the continuing flood catastrophe in SE Asia; the starving and disease-ridden innocents of Yemen; and now the horrific ethnic cleansing in Myanmar of Ruhingya Muslims. I can only wonder why Aung San Suu Kyi has been largely silent on the matter, having admired her tremendously for years. Is she still under the influence of the military, one wonders? Desmond Tutu is surely right to break his silence on this matter.
I am currently reading the earliest writings of Amy Carmichael, missionary to India in the early 1900s, and a local 'saint', having lived in Broughton and been a product of the earliest Keswick conventions. She castigates Christians at home for their cosy missionary prayer meetings, while she and her colleagues are toughing it out 1000s of miles away. Yet what else can we do, so far from the places of such acute need? Give money for sure - and that generously.
Today, All Saints hosted a Civic Service with a difference, at the end of European Heritage weekend. It was different because a New Orleans jazz band led the worship. It was marvellous, completely transforming the worship. Everyone joined in with familiar hymns, some coming out of black slavery e.g. Just a Closer Walk with Thee and Down by the Riverside. I was thrilled to see a number of people, non-churchgoers, joining with such feeling in prayer and worship. It seemed to touch something deep within us all. In my address, I reflected on heritage and culture, and our contribution to it. One day, people will look back on what they have inherited from us!
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