Dear Friends
Lots of children know the song “The wise man built his house upon the rock”, but I wonder how many know that it’s based on a parable that Jesus told - a story with a meaning. It may seem obvious that a house built on a solid foundation is more likely to withstand the onslaught of wind and rain than the house built on sand. Buildings need a strong foundation, and they also need to be well constructed from good quality materials.
Recent disasters in Burma and China have resulted in many homes being destroyed and a vast number of lives lost. Cyclones and earthquakes are no respecters of persons, and claim the lives of young and old, rich and poor alike. However, listening to a radio broadcast covering the tragedy in China I heard a description of strongly constructed buildings still standing, and one man whose home had been destroyed was asking why his and other humble dwellings had not been more solidly built. Often when disaster strikes it is not so much the house of the foolish man but the house of the poor man that falls flat.
Among the harrowing stories from China were reports of children trapped under the rubble of a school. The anguish of the parents is heartbreaking, particularly in view of China’s policy of couples having only one child. The enormous scale of this and other tragedies is hard to comprehend, but every person who has died was a unique, precious individual. For each life lost there is a grieving family. Our hearts go out to those who have lost loved ones in tragic circumstances, whether in a large scale disaster, or in a single incident. There is deep concern over the number of young lives being lost in violent incidents in our towns and cities. A few weeks ago we heard of the murder of Jimmy Mizzen, who had just celebrated his 16th birthday. Jimmy’s parents do at least have the consolation of other children, but that does not lessen the pain for the family. Parental love is not diluted just because there are more children to be loved.
I have been impressed by the dignity of Jimmy’s grieving parents. His mother has said she does not blame the parents of the young man who committed the murder, and she has spoken wise words about trying to forgive and not becoming embittered. This attitude is in line with the teachings of Jesus. Some people have criticised Mrs Mizzen, and some cannot understand how a mother can speak like this. They are missing the point. Forgiveness does not mean denying the seriousness of a crime, or dispensing with justice. It does mean not thirsting for revenge, which can only make things worse. It is an attitude that can open the way for healing for the victim’s family and for the perpetrator. However, forgiveness also calls for repentance – a turning away from sin and wrongdoing, and turning to God.
The Christian faith of Jimmy’s parents is the firm foundation on which their family life is built. The meaning of the story that Jesus told is that the wise, who build on faith and belief in God, are better equipped to withstand the storms of life, and are less likely to fall apart, even when their hearts are breaking.
Our country has been built upon this solid foundation, but over the years we have seen that foundation being eroded. We hear lots of ideas about how to tackle the problems in society, when what is needed is to strengthen the foundation and re-establish our communal life on a solid base. To build again on the teachings of Jesus and to regain reverence for God in our national life would benefit all, including people of other religious faiths or of none.
With my love and prayers
Glynis Hetherington
Friday, 20 June 2008
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