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Good morning….

On holiday on the island of Skye last year with my husband, the heavens unexpectedly opened in the midst of a lovely walk and we had to seek some refuge.  The rain was torrential and we were drookit – drenched – within seconds.  Pip, our dog, led the way and bolted for some trees and cowered down in the undergrowth.  As is often the way on the islands, the rain disappeared as suddenly as it arrived and the sun returned.

Seeking shelter from the storm –– for some this is a daily struggle, and it’s not just from the rain.  It’s from oppression and violence and despair – it’s a human struggle that continues unabated, and we often wonder what we can do to make a difference.  Feeling helpless can leave us numb to the plight and pain of others.

But it becomes dangerous to think we cannot make a difference – to be passive in the face of such challenges can end up making us compliant.  Take plastic pollution as an example – none of us can solve the whole problem, but if we each take individual responsibility for our own use of plastic, change is surely possible.

Jesus called his followers to act in love and speak in love – and sided with the marginalised and downtrodden.  His example stands as an inspiration even for those who would not claim the Christian faith.

So what difference might we make in our choices today?  How might we weather some of the world’s storms together, living with compassion?  We each can offer some hope to another, and find the sunshine after the rain.

God, you are in the midst of life.  How you care will always feed our questions. Inspire in us your hope for a better future for all.  Amen