How are we to respond to the appalling stories in the news?
In the midst of the riots and looting, in London and many other places, another story is emerging. This is of local people, from faith backgrounds, involved in the clean up, and in keeping a watchful eye on their neighbourhoods. We are called to bring light to places of hopeless despair, where the darkness seems to be winning.
Sadly, the three Muslim men killed in Birmingham shows that there can be price tag to this form of serving.
But our calling to be different is to be our basic mind-set.
St. Paul taught his friends in Philippi, a proud Roman colony, from his imprisonment in Rome, about being different from the prevailing culture. 'Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.' (Philippians 2.14-15)
Instead of being drawn into a competitive cycle of greed and envy, which stokes our consumer culture - and leads to wanton looting - we are to be servants of God and one another. Living like that will always make an impact for good. It is wonderful to see how faithful Christ-followers have been serving their neighbourhoods in London, and bringing some Good News.
So today's dark news provides all of us with an opportunity to live provocatively different lives. I pray we will take these openings with prayerful goodness.
Best wishes,
Richard
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