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Website last updated on 6th June 2010. |
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Our Minister
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Telephone Number: 01252 544823
Email: linda.phillips@theinvernet.co.uk
Linda writes (taken from our June 2010 newsletter) ...
Dear Friends,
I’m writing this letter having just returned from a very interesting
(although rather tiring) summer holiday - a railway journey from Vienna
to Istanbul (via Budapest!). The whole thing is a bit of a blur at the
moment, as we visited so many places, but one of the overwhelming impressions
was that of the contrast between wealth and poverty that we saw, particular
as we moved through the ex-Soviet bloc countries and towards Istanbul.
We saw instances of poverty that were quite appalling – especially
as we entered towns and cities by rail (why is it that this area of any
town is always so run down and scruffy?!). We saw people living in hovels
made out of plastic sheets and old pieces of wood, beggars on the street
in considerably worse state than those you might meet in London, and old
Soviet-era tower blocks, where collapsing balconies were propped up with
bricks precariously balanced on the edge of the balcony below. At the
same time there were well-dressed people, expensive cars and plush hotels,
a well organised tourist industry, and much evidence generally of the
western consumer society moving in. We had never visited Istanbul before,
and found that it was surprisingly like most of our Western European cities.
Apart from the Arabic script language on signs, the minarets and cries
of the muezzin at prayer time, we could have been in Paris or Rome.
It was wonderful to have the opportunity to discover so much about other
countries. and yet occasionally depressing to see the downside of these
places, a sense of guilt hovering that we had the money to take a holiday
like that, while so many lived in abject poverty. I find it hard to know
how we as Christians should respond in such situations. At least we can
say that taking holidays in such places puts money into those local economies,
although we may doubt if the poorest really benefit. A focus on providing
facilities for the tourists, though, may end up depriving local people
of a better standard of living. We end up not knowing what to do for the
best, perhaps.
There may be no easy answers, even if you look for “eco-friendly”
holidays and similar possibilities. One thing we can say is that if we
are aware of what is going on around us while we are on holiday, there
is no shortage of material for our prayers, for our giving to charity
and to encourage our desire to offer time and energy to help others. Perhaps
awareness is the point I want to make, for I
suspect that much of the time, perhaps especially in our own familiar
neighbourhood, we do not notice the pain and distress of those around
us. If you read the Gospels with this in mind you will see how Jesus was
very aware of all that was going on around him, and quick to respond in
many ways, quick to reach out to help and to heal.
May that be the message to us as we embark on our holiday time, whether
it be going to stay with friends or relatives not far away, or to the
other side of the world, or just staying at home, to be aware of our surroundings,
to learn from what we see, and allow that learning to encourage us in
our service of others in the name of Christ.
May you find rest, renewal and enrichment in the coming summer months,
whether at home or further away.
With Christian greetings,
Linda