Lord, In Your Mercy, Hear Our Prayer

The last few minutes of Spanair’s flight JK5002 are still unclear. Official reports now say that 153 lives were lost. And miraculously 19 lives were spared. The fractured new reports suggest that the victims had little opportunity to escape and most have died as a result of the incinerating fire from an aircraft that was full of jet fuel on take off.

We offer our prayers and supplications for the passengers, crew, and emergency rescue teams. But we should also pray for the friends and relatives and all whose lives will change as a result of this tragedy.

Over the coming days news reports will include flight manifests containing names and destinations, but they won’t provide glimpses on the lives of the passengers. We know there were at least twenty children and two babies on board – their full lives ahead of them, lovingly embraced by all the hope and excitement of their young parents. And we know there were passengers from numerous countries, particularly as the airline shared their inventory with Lufthansa. Each soul on board was loved and needed by someone – and by God.

These names and many others will be called out tomorrow and for many tomorrows to come, not only by news reporters, but by the families and loved ones who must continue their lives, tainted by the mental vision of the crash and flames. And let us pray for the gate agent, who will surely relive the memory of each and every passenger, as she checked them in for their flight, looked into their eyes and wished them a good journey. Those faces will remain with her for the rest of her life.

The horror of this disaster, as we imagine the last terrifying moments of this fateful flight, obscures the fact that millions of people fly everyday in thousands of planes safely and without incident. But this tragedy and every other similar tragedy challenges anybody who has ever prayed – and that’s probably most of us since praying isn’t limited to ‘signed-up’ believers.

It’s natural for us to wonder what was God thinking as He heard the pleas of these and other terrified victims? And for those of us who've ever felt that God has from time to time answered our own prayers, we're in the double bind of explaining why He came to our aid and not to theirs. Our doubts are fuelled by having a picture of God dwelling in some trouble-free paradise watching us sweating it out on this war-torn earth.

Jesus said ‘Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to earth without the Father.’ It could invoke the vision of God himself falling from the skies to the earth to suffer alongside all His creatures. That’s a very different picture from the one of God as the detached problem-solver.

An experienced mother once told me that she reckoned she’d had her appendix out four times; Once for herself and once for each of her children. Such is the power of empathy, the power of compassionate imagination you can so strongly empathise with someone you love that you feel the pain yourself.

If God is able to identify so strongly with all His creatures, then in a sense He must never be without pain. Far from inhabiting a trouble-free paradise, He must be totally and always acquainted with our grief and sorrows. Which is the state in which we find Him when we turn to Him in prayer.

Christians and others long for that day when God will wipe every tear from our eyes, when death will be no more and mourning, tears, and pain will be things of the past. If we who suffer from time to time long for this, how much more must God, who we believe carries the suffering of the whole world, ache for such a day.

As we offer our prayers for all those who have died, let us find comfort in the knowledge that those passengers have been received by a loving and life-giving God.

And in this knowledge, we are reminded that there is life immortal that shall survive the grave and their imperishable spirit is forever with the Lord.

Our prayers are with all who are affected by this tragedy.

Loving and compassionate Lord, we pray for all those who have called out to You and all who have suffered and all who have died. Receive them into Your arms. We ask that you embrace anyone who has been touched by this tragedy. Give strength and comfort to those who are bereaved and to the rescue workers, officials, and public whose lives have been affected. And for all who travel, we pray that You place Your gentle breath upon each of them, that they may always feel the warmth of Your love and protection. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen

Verdes pastos él me hace reposar y adonde brota agua fresca me conduce. Fortalece mi alma, por el camino del bueno me dirige por amor de su nombre. Aunque pase por quebradas muy oscuras no tengo ningún mal, porque tú estás conmigo, tu bastón y tu vara me protegen. Me sirves a la mesa frente a mis adversarios, con aceites tú perfumas mi cabeza y rellenas mi copa. Me acompaña tu bondad y tu favour mientras dura mi vida, mi mansion será la casa del Señor por largo, largo tiempo. Salmos 23

Children Survive Spanair JK5002 Crash

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When Traditions Become Weights

Being a parent to teenagers can provide a cornucopia of lessons. As adults we struggle to instil our personal values, traditions, and morals. And at the same time, we watch our children strive to develop their own.

My daughter is the epitome of neatness and regeneration, while my son tends to take a more ‘relaxed’ approach to hanging up his clothes, discarding old things, and keeping his room generally tidy. Mary is adept at discarding things when they have reached their natural cycle of use and her 'Dad-management' skills have often turned to ensuring that I adhere to a similar cycle.

A few days ago I was rather confusedly looking around the bathroom in search of my nailbrush. Surely it had fallen to the floor for it was nowhere to be found. It was a few seconds until my eyes accepted the fact that there was actually a new nailbrush sitting on the side of the tub. But my old friend of a nailbrush, that had been with us for many years, was nowhere to be found. I had a nostalgic fondness for my trusty old Fuller Brush, but it was so old and worn that the bristles had turned over the edges.

I had to agree, a new one was not only in order, but a lovely and functional gesture on the part of my daughter. But I did feel a slight sense of anticipatory panic rise as I stared at my pair of hopelessly worn jeans, with no less than four different patches, hanging on the back of the door. I felt my pulse race at the thought of having them also disappear in a fit of teenage practicality.

OK twist my arm, I admit it. I’m a hoarder. Mary is a regenerator. And I have come to see that whilst carrying baggage around from the past may be comforting, it may not be practical or convenient. And this leads on to something more important.

Tradition is a wonderful thing. However, too much tradition can be restricting. You cannot have the benefits of what is new and effective and pleasing until you let go of the past.

The German theologian Paul Tillich wrote 'Whether we observe the growth of a living cell, or of a human soul, or of an historical period, we see that growth is gain and loss at the same time; it is both fulfilment and sacrifice.'

There is a dilemma here for the church and any institution, which treasures the past and sees that as an absolute to be preserved at any cost. Sure we look to our faith as security in the turbulence of life. But if we remain at anchor, we'll never experience the challenge of the open sea, never find the excitement of new discovery.


Heavenly Father, You set in process the flow of life. Help us to treasure what is useful in our inheritance, but give us courage to let go of weights that tie us to the past, so that we may embrace the future to which You are leading us. Amen

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You're No Good!

There are so many times when I’ve asked people to help with small projects and I’ve heard the reply: ‘I'm no good at that, I couldn't do it,' or 'I don't have the ability.'

Why is our self-assessment so negative and our self-esteem so low? One of the most damaging things a parent or teacher can say to a child is: 'You are no good.' That can leave a legacy for the rest of their life. Personally, I still recall my own mother so often throwing off the comment ‘oh, you’re useless!’ I’m sure she didn’t mean it with malice, it was said more as an affectation. And I was able to see it as such. But I’m certain such a comment isn’t always received as such.

Jesus was a great encourager. He saw the potential in everyone and challenged them to realise their potential. Each of us has many gifts and abilities, but they lie buried deep within us and are never given the opportunity to develop. And the later in life we are, the more challenging it becomes to bring these talents and change in our self-esteem to the surface.

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Compassionate God, your Son Jesus Christ took our nature upon Him and shared our common life. We thank You that He understands us both in our strength and in our weakness and ever encourages us to achieve our full potential. Amen

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Contentment

A luxury car, the latest handbag, a ‘larger’ diamond ring, a sumptuous meal at a posh restaurant – they can all lead to a sense of contentment… or can they?

Contentment is one of the most precious gifts we can experience and one of the most difficult to manufacture. In our materialistic world we can invest a great deal in trying to attain happiness for ourselves and for the people we love. Often in the pursuit of joy we focus on precisely the wrong things, we can end up feeling even more discontented than when we first started.

We've all been tempted to search for happiness through possessing things, buying unnecessary luxuries or striving to meet impossible goals. Or we can spend hours imagining a future - planning a day out or a treat only for our expectations to be disappointed or for our appetite for pleasure to be dulled by over-stimulation.

Jesus had a better understanding of how to find contentment and he spoke about this in the series of sayings that we know as the ‘beatititudes.’ He locates contentment not in the search for personal satisfaction but in an attitude of trust in God and in the practical service of other people. So He said, ‘happy are the pure in heart, for they shall see God’ and ‘Happy are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled.’

What makes these sayings of Jesus even more powerful is that they were not only words that He taught in a sermon but that they were made real in the way that He lived. Jesus showed people the attractive peace and integrity that comes from putting the service of God and others before everything else.



God of wholeness You long for us to find contentment in our lives. Lead us away from all selfishness and help us to know the true freedom and happiness that comes from giving ourselves more generously in the love and service of others. Amen.

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Judging Justice

We hear a lot about ‘justice’ right now. Hardly a week passes that we don’t hear President Bush, or some other Western leader say they will seek out and find some individual, group, or other and ‘bring them to justice.’

The word ‘justice’ is often used as a euphemism for revenge or retaliation. Recently America’s National Public Radio carried an article on the events surrounding a number of US Marines who were shot at along a road in Basra Iraq. Sadly, one of their soldiers was killed. The Marines reacted and as a consequence, scores of Iraqis died, including women, children and babies. The military report listed those deaths as ‘collateral damage.’ (Another interesting euphemism!).

But now a third investigation is suggesting that the Marines deliberately massacred people in this village, despite an earlier investigation that dismissed such allegations by the Iraqis. The reactions to this event, regardless of where you stand, are understandably emotive.

We’re often placed in paradoxical situations. On one hand, the ‘human instinct’ is to react and seek ‘justice.’ On the other hand, the spiritual side of us says we are to not judge.

In our journeys through spiritual living one of the blemishes we can incur is that of false humility. Sometimes, in order to avoid doing what is right, we either ignore or pretend we are too ignorant of God’s will to know what to do. CS Lewis wrote ‘The trouble with trying to make yourself stupider than you really are is that you can often succeed.’

During these turbulent times it’s a condition in which we often find ourselves, unable to render elementary justice to outrageous crimes, because we believe we shouldn’t judge.

Failing to judge does not mean abandoning the call for justice. It means not arrogating God’s authority.

May your views be just, your heart full of mercy, and your life humble before God.


Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God…But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others, as you would have them do to you. Matthew 5:9; Luke 6:27-31

Hear, you heads of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel! Is it not for you to know justice? Micah 3:1

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Who Are We Forgetting?

The growing dissension within the world-wide Anglican Communion has prompted a plethora of commanding and emotive statements from numerous luminaries, clergy, and members of the public. It is a tribute to our democratic freedoms that we possess the ability to make our positions of faith and beliefs public.

But there is equally a large number of people who do not possess the mechanisms to participate in these public forums. Among them are the elderly who have faithfully served God and their church all of their lives.

In the twilight of their years they have no interest or desire to become embroiled in ministerial politics, or supposed advancements in spiritual enlightenment. Instead, they are seeking to find comfort in the bosom of their faith, as they prepare themselves for that brief moment of darkness, which awakens to new a new dawn.

As the ‘enlightened’ battle it out with one another, the innocent become forgotten, they’re left confused, hurt, and often bitter. And most certainly deserted by their family – the very foundation upon which our churches were built – Christ’s family.

When Jesus chose the twelve disciples to be His close companions, during the three years of His public ministry, who would have thought that in His hour of need one turned out to be a traitor, one denied that he ever knew Him and the others deserted Him and ran away. In Pilate's judgement hall He stood isolated and alone and when they led Him away to crucify Him, He was left to carry His cross with not a single companion in sight.

It’s easy to understand something of what Jesus was going through. Betrayal, denial, and desertion are bitter experiences and can often leave a permanent imprint on our hearts and minds.

The cross was like a shadow across Jesus' life from the very beginning and grew darker and more threatening as time passed.

No wonder Jesus said, 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.'

Whatever we do, whatever position we take, we must not forget our elders, who deserve and need the respect and comfort from their family church. Failing to do so is to ignore the rubrics of our faith.

Lord Jesus, You humbled Yourself in taking the form of a servant and in obedience died on the cross for our salvation. Let us not forget Your humble servants who have served You all their lives. Give us the mind to follow You, as Your Son has taught us, in adherence to Your word, and not for our own convenience. Amen

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Parable of The Mouse Trap

Whilst it’s an old parable, considering all the turmoil our world is facing today - division within the Anglican Church, the workplace, a community, or even the family home - the story offers a wonderful perspective on living.

A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package. ’What food might this contain?’ he wondered. He was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap.

Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning. ’There’s a mousetrap in the house! There’s mousetrap in the house!’

The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, ‘Mr. Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it.’

The mouse turned to the pig and told him, ‘There is a mousetrap in the house.’ The pig sympathised, but said, ‘I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured you are in my prayers.’

The mouse turned to the cow. She said, ‘Wow, Mr. Mouse! I'm sorry for you, but it’s no skin off my nose.’ So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer’s mousetrap alone.

That very night a sound was heard throughout the house - like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey. The farmer’s wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she couldn’t see that it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught.

The snake bit the farmer’s wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital, and she returned home with a fever.

Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup’s main ingredient. Arrivederci chicken!

But his wife’s sickness continued, so friends and neighbours came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig. Arrivederci Pig!

The farmer's wife never got well: she died. So many people came for her funeral the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them. Arrivederci Cow!

So the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn’t concern you, remember, when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk.

In the book of Genesis, Cain said this about Abel his brother, to our God: ‘Am I my brother's keeper?’

We are all involved in this journey called life. Keeping an eye out for one another and actually making the effort to be involved is what gives God pleasure. The investment may take time and resources, but the rewards are priceless!



Lord God, Help us to see all that is in our world, to see that an individual’s need is not just their need alone. Help us to force open the doors of our churches, and the hearts and minds of the people within, so that our celebrations draw others in and not keep people out. Let us bring light to those who live in darkness. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen

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