Thought for the Week

This year has certainly not begun well.

What dreadful loss of animal life as Australia burns and so far half a billion animals have died. People are homeless and flee for their very lives. They cry for rain.

In Indonesia, the people are engulfed by floods and cry, ‘No more rain’.

Across the water, President Trump threatens war and fear lingers in the air as Iran sabre-rattles in retaliation.

It is only a couple of weeks since we heard of the good news about a baby born who would be the Prince of Peace.

We heard that people would beat their swords into ploughshares, we heard that nation would not rise up against nation, we heard that people would speak of war no more.

We heard that the trees of the fields would clap their hands, that nature would rejoice. We heard that good news was coming for all people.

Was it good news or fake news?

How do we hold on to hope when there is so much tragedy, so much pain, so much hurt?

Should we tuck ourselves away with the tinsel till next Christmas and forget about the Angels’ song?

But it was to this very world of reality, in all its pain and horror and sadness, that Jesus came.

He came to a world just as troubled, just as broken, just as needy, just as hurting – and he didn’t walk away, he didn’t give up on it. He loved it and he lived in it to make a difference.

That is what he asks of us – to make a difference.

‘I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.’