Just a rambling thought

The last few days have been sad ones as we contemplate the loss of so many lives in the attack on Muslims at prayer in a mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand. In a place where they should have been safe, and able to practice their faith in peace, someone with warped thinking has completely shattered the lives of innocent people.

It's hard to get our heads around the idea that one human being can commit so much evil. This is not the first act of this kind. I wish it was the last. But as I heard someone say recently: in a world where we can contemplate travelling into space we don't seem to be able to  work out how to live peacefully with each other.

Unfortunately our world is not a safe place. We know that people who were given places of trust have violated that trust in the worst possible ways, (our recent inquiry into institutionalised abuse is a stark reminder of this.) Wars and atrocities continue to happen and political interference in other countries grows.

Where does all this end? I don't have the answers but I know that as a follower of Jesus I have a responsibility to love as he loved. To live in a way that shows love and kindness to others. He died and rose that we might live in unity with each other.  Unfortunately so many that want to bear the name Christian, have done so in a way that has been unkind, hurtful and harmful towards others.

This is not the heart of Jesus. He loved unconditionally and brought the possibility of restoration and reconciliation. Not just to him, but between people. As a follower of Jesus I want to be someone who brings restoration and reconciliation,  who brings love and hope and peace.

How can this become a way of life across the globe? Well, we can make a start in our local areas.

We can choose to let go of our need for power and control over others. We can choose to let go of our petty quarrels. We can stop complaining about the behaviour of others.

We can start being proactive. Don't wait for someone else to make the move. We can choose to pick up the phone and make a call to someone we haven't heard from in a while. We can organise a get together with our neighbours and get to know them. We can choose to seek out the immigrants and the refugees and show love, care and kindness to them. No matter our faith we can all do these things.

To be honest I think the reason we often don't is because we allow other things to occupy our thinking. We waste time or are too busy. We get upset because a friend hasn't called (when did you last actually make an effort to communicate with them and ask about them?) We allow ourselves to become too focused inwardly. We choose rejection and hurt instead of offering forgiveness and love.

Let's put away small thinking. Let's open our hearts and minds to others. Let's show love and respect to people with different thoughts and ideas to us.  Whatever your beliefs about God are, let's listen to each other, love each other and make our local communities better places. If we all did this I reckon the world would be a better place.