Making hope possible

At the start of ‘week 6’, one might think that we would be running out of steam. It seems from our news that while many have been asking when the restrictions of ‘lockdown’ will be lifted, Government Ministers advise we still have a long way to go before any kind of ‘normality’ can be restored. So we look for signs of hope to encourage and enlighten us, particularly as we know the world can never be quite the same again – nor should it. Appropriately, we begin this week with a powerful message from our youngest contributor, Aiden Martin. His perspective and insights provide just the kind of challenge and motivation for us to believe that hope is possible.

Daw eto haul ar fryn

The sun will rise over the hill again

Aiden Martin (Tal-y-Bont & Llanbedr-y-Cennin)

Our greeting ‘postcards’ to one another resume tomorrow.

Arrival of Chinese Medics

‘To be truly radical is to make hope possible not despair convincing’ said Raymond Williams, a Welsh philosopher.

As life changes every moment we must ask, what does radical mean? We look at Christ who Himself was seen as radical in His time. The core teachings of agape, which many of us base our actions on, were radical. He was radical for teaching that we must love each other. And even today, this idea of love with no boundaries is not always practiced, or even accepted. It has never been so important in many of our lives to break down barriers and be catalysts in love for all nations. Jesus’ mission was based on agape. The Gospels tell how Jesus encouraged people to love others unconditionally, even when it was difficult to do so. It is so easy nowadays to point the finger of blame.

And what of hope, as in our new, absurd lives we are bombarded with the despairing news of the COVID-19 pandemic? As a teenager, I am often reminded of the hope of the young, perhaps it’s innocence, or naivety, that causes us young people to hold so much hope, and that causes others to look to us for hope. The young will change the world with energy. This is how I view us humans on earth. But it is as children of God that we are full of hope, trusting in the life to come with God’s wing protecting us.

This pandemic has shown that peace and love are tools of hope. I cannot claim to be wise with all of Jesus’ words, but I trust in this, the most basic of Christian teachings: unconditional love. The image above shows Chinese medics, whose efforts and care are no longer sorely needed in their home nation, arriving here to help us in our struggle against this virus. This is exactly what Jesus taught. Love and care for all, regardless of borders, race, beliefs, gender and wealth. So let us be radical and show our neighbours we love them as we journey on through this crisis; we will come out the other side, undefeated by the gate which hides under the dark folds of this pandemic. Remembering that in this time of unity across the globe, we are all vehicles of hope through Jesus Christ. As we say here in Wales: Daw eto haul ar fryn The sun will rise over the hill again.

Lord Jesus Christ,
you taught us to love our neighbour,
and to care for those in need
as if we were caring for you.
In this time of anxiety, give us strength
to comfort the fearful, to tend the sick,
and to assure the isolated
of our love, and your love,
for your name’s sake. Amen.