Saturday, January 15, 2005

Faith

Our local paper had an article in it from a vicar I know well last night. He's a truly lovely man, a good and strong religious man but with an open mind and sense of humour that goes far beyond any other vicar I know.
He was writing about how difficult it it to maintain faith in the face of such vast human tragedy and destruction. But that after the event the enormous pulling together of people from every corner of the world to help the victims rebuild their lives has rebuilt his faith and made it stronger.
Hmm an emotive subject and the answer he gave was the one I expected him to give. Us humans are built with compassion and empathy. Maybe throughout the years of war and tragedy the majority of us have learnt to value life. We don't need a bible to tell us not to murder each other. We are humans.
I spoke to a close friend today. She is confused and depressed about the Tsunami loss. How such a thing could have happened?
We may be humans. The most intelligent species on the Earth (though sometimes that could be challenged) But we aren't immune to the effects of our Earth. How could we be? To consider ourselves so important that nothing can touch us?
I guess we could stay at home. Not venture out to see foreign parts, stay 'safe'. Then be killed by some man made Truck ploughing into our house with a drunk driver at the wheel.
More bad man made things happen that natural world things.
Maybe the thing that we should hold close and remember about such disasters is that life is precious to us. All life. Every single person matters no matter what origin or religion.
Peace and an end to war. Whoever your God is.

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