OzThoughts Tuesday 30th December 2008

OzThoughts Tuesday 30th December 2008

I have seen many references to the Christmas New Year period as the silly season. That may be just an Australian thing. I noticed there are website references to the political campaign season as the silly season in the United States. I guess that is fair enough, too.

I began to think of the silly season last night when I reflected on the range of subjects, I had spoken about to people during the day. People spoke about cricket, the war on the Gaza Strip, violence by drunken people leaving night clubs, family gatherings for Christmas, personal financial loss caused by the recession, the heat and storms, and so the list could go on.

I find it is almost useless watching current affair television this time of the year as the shows go from the more serious to the trivial. Last night two segments were about expects guessing which beer was which by taste and how to look good in a bikini.

I remember the silly season some years ago and I looked back to comments I wrote about television commentary on the tragic tsunami then. I wrote:

“There needed to be also, I think, some understanding of the human reaction to tragedy. What I think convinced me it was the silly season was the close up shots of a tearful and distressed mother and sister who put the blame on the Australian Government for not telling them where their son and his friend were. All they wanted was, they said, news as to whether they were dead or alive. The Government, they said was uncaring and had failed them. It seems their son and his friend were in Sri Lanka which has a population of 20 million and had lost more than 10,000 of its citizens and visitors in the tragedy. I think it was understandable that the Australian Government said they would have to wait for contact. At the end of the show, it was stated that the missing son and daughter had made contact. They had not before as they were in the mountains and knew nothing about the tsunami”.

I am sure there is nothing silly about the loss and suffering of people. It is very real. I am just wondering about the media response to it. I imagine in every country there are appeals for cash, skilled personnel and special equipment. For ten years, I stood before people and made appeals on behalf of Red Cross in the face of great human tragedy in other nations and our own. For years before that I sat and prayed with individuals who were facing tragedy in their personal circumstances.

I can’t explain human suffering. However, I know that in the face of tragedy there is love. Love reaches out and holds a hand. Love wipes away a tear. Love gives an embrace. Love often says nothing but is a caring presence. Love does say its prayers. Above all God is love. There is nothing silly about God’s love.

PRAYER:

Father God, thank you for your love. I pray that your love may surround those who have lost so much. Father you know the many who have lost family, others have lost property and others have lost their employment. Some have lost everything. Father I pray that you will be real to all just now. Father, we know too that ministry in these circumstances is difficult. I pray that you will assure those who minister of your sufficiency in this task. Amen.


Unto thee will I cry,
Shepherd, hear my prayer!
Poor and needy am 1,
Shepherd, hear my prayer!
Deep is calling unto deep.
Rugged are the heights, and steep;
Guide my steps and keep;
Hear, O hear my prayer!
Hear, O hear my prayer!

Where the tempest is loud,
Shepherd, hear my prayer!
'Mid the darkness and cloud,
Shepherd, hear my prayer
Let me hear thy voice afar,
Coming with the morning star;
True thy mercies are!
Hear, O hear my prayer!
Hear, O hear my prayer!

Let the foe not prevail,
Shepherd, hear my prayer!
My resources would fail,
Shepherd, hear my prayer!
Order all my steps aright,
Carry me from height to height;
Yonder shines the light!
Shepherd, lead me there!
Lead me safely there!
Author: Albert Orsborn (1886-1967)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 641

Psalm 5 (The Message)

1Listen, GOD! Please, pay attention!
Can you make sense of these ramblings,
2my groans and cries?
King-God, I need your help.
3Every morning
you'll hear me at it again.
Every morning
I lay out the pieces of my life
on your altar
and watch for fire to descend.

4You don't socialize with Wicked,
or invite Evil over as your houseguest.
5Hot-Air-Boaster collapses in front of you;
you shake your head over Mischief-Maker.
6GOD destroys Lie-Speaker;
Blood-Thirsty and Truth-Bender disgust you.

7And here I am, your invited guest--
it's incredible!
I enter your house; here I am,
prostrate in your inner sanctum,
8Waiting for directions
to get me safely through enemy lines.

9Every word they speak is a land mine;
their lungs breathe out poison gas.
Their throats are gaping graves,
their tongues slick as mudslides.

10Pile on the guilt, God!
Let their so-called wisdom wreck them.
Kick them out! They've had their chance.

11But you'll welcome us with open arms
when we run for cover to you.
Let the party last all night!
Stand guard over our celebration.
12You are famous, GOD, for welcoming God--seekers,
for decking us out in delight.

……………………………………….

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