'Life is more than simply black or white?' - Weekly Reflection 1st September 2024

Last night I was watching the news with all its usual awful stories of tragedy, death and destruction, both here in the UK and across the world.  Then there was a fairly lengthy feature about two musical brothers from Manchester who have decided to make up and get back on stage together.  Of course, I am talking about the Gallagher brothers and Oasis.

Initially I thought here we are, with all the news about the world ‘going to hell in a handcart’ and we have this lengthy feature about the return of Oasis and interviews with fans and those hoping to be fortunate to get tickets, seriously!

Then I checked myself, and considered the pleasure and the joy this would be bringing to people. (And making money for a lot of people – but let’s park that).  And here is the paradox of life.

One of the well-known aspects of the life of Queen Victoria and perhaps the most significant turning point in Queen Victoria's life was the death of Prince Albert in December 1861. His death sent Victoria into a deep depression, and she stayed in seclusion for many years, rarely appearing in public.

She mourned him by wearing black for the remaining forty years of her life.

As did Johnny Cash – and he explained why in his song ‘Man in Black,’ here are a few verses. 

Well, you wonder why I always dress in black Why you never see Bright colours on my back And why does my appearance Seem to have a sombre tone? Well, there's a reason for the things That I have on	I wear the black For the poor and the beaten down Livin' in the hopeless Hungry side of town I wear it for the prisoner Who has long paid for his crime But is there because He's a victim of the times
I wear the black For the poor and the beaten down Livin' in the hopeless Hungry side of town I wear it for the prisoner Who has long paid for his crime But is there because He's a victim of the times	I wear the black For those who've never read Or listened To the words that Jesus said About the road to happiness Through love and charity Why you'd think He's talking Straight to you and me

By contrast Jesus is often portrayed as ‘the man in white’ – though we can be reasonably certain he never wore white.

And Jesus lived at a time when ‘the world was going to hell in a handcart’ – not that he would have used such an expression, but you get the point. Grinding poverty, life lived at subsistence level, Roman occupation, short brutish lives with only the most rudimentary of medical care.  The story of the man beaten up on the journey from Jerusalem to Jericho would have been based on a reality  

Would Jesus have tried to book tickets to see Oasis? Well, what we do read in the Gospel’s is that Jesus liked to party, that he liked to have meals with people, very often the ‘wrong’ sort of people.

‘For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’

But we do know he also knew deep sorrow. Reflect for a moment his hearing the news about his cousin John, and the awful tragedy of his death.

Queen Victoria spent the rest of her life in mourning. And I get that. When something so awful has happened to you. Like the awful tragedy of my wife’s great niece, killed by a drug filled and drunken young man, deliberately driving a car onto the pavement and killing her and injuring others.

Will life every hold joy again, is it okay if I smile and even laugh? These are real questions and tough questions to answer.

There are some things that happen in life that we will never ‘get over.’ But we can come to live with the new reality. And slowly in that new reality we can learn pleasure and joy and yes, even laughter, without that gnawing feeling of guilt that we shouldn’t be doing this.  

Following the tragic death of Becca a memorial fund was set up, ‘The Rebecca Steer Memorial Fund.’  This Fund’ awards grants to young people in the village of Llanymynech to help with their further education.  We went to the first of these ‘Award Ceremonies’ about a year following Becca’s death. And it was such a delight to see Becca’s mum smiling and finding enjoyment amidst the awful pain that she continues to live with.

Life is not black and white but presents itself in all kinds of colours as encapsulated in this prayer...

O Saviour Christ, in whose way of love lays the secret of all life, and the hope of all people, we pray for quiet courage to match this hour. We did not choose to be born or to live in such an age; but let its problems challenge us, its discoveries exhilarate us, its injustices anger us, it possibilities inspire us, and its vigour renew us. Pour out upon us a fresh indwelling of the Holy Spirit; make us bold and courageous in sharing faith in both word and deed for your Kingdom’s sake we ask. Amen

I have no plans to try and see Oasis, but I do enjoy a nice meal out with friends and a glass of beer, especially a nice craft beer. I am not much of a ‘party animal’ – but that’s just me. I have known loss and learned to live with the ‘new reality.’  I am also with Johhny Cash and the injustices around the world anger me.  Particularly when it comes to the Prison Estate. We are about 1,000 from full capacity according to the latest figures. And there is a call to build more prisons. I want to say that an 'ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure' – why are we not investing more in early lives through education, support and help?  Warnings and alternative paths going towards the cliff edge is surely better than a fleet of ambulances below picking up the bodies. 

In an article in the Church Times, Jon Kuhrt asks if the Church has lost it way in many of the social programmes that it runs. (Are we manning the abulances) and quotes Dom Helder Camara, “When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist.” 

I have been saying for a while that Foodbanks are a disgrace – we simply shouldn’t need them except for cases of emergency and a crisis.

Jon argues in much the same way – why are these social programmes necessary and who are they really serving and are they actually helping or disempowering people? 

See Grace, Truth, Common Good - Together For The Common Good)

And Johnny Cash’s song may be great – but I think this one is better...

'Have You Heard God's Voice'

https://youtu.be/JzJr9T5JYRU?si=UOAVDUNFOJWGsQkD