COMMUNITY CHAPEL

FairGO’s Christmas New Year message

We live in great times, with great opportunities. To me they are to serve God and our world. Others will have different but no less important priorities.

Government has great power to do good or evil. It all depends on who influences it most. Over the past 24 years we have found many politicians willing to support individuals and community groups seeking to improve the way government works. Let us continue this trend.

The great times we live in are reflected in:-
The very minor wars we experience compared to those of 1914-18 or 1939-45, Korea, the European Crusades or Roman conquests. We grieve for those who suffer and work for peaceful solutions to the greed of national or local leaders who seek greater power.

We have identified the horrific child abuse of both governments and church organisations run by people who are as far from the teachings of Christ as it is possible to be. Beating and abusing children in the name of the man who sought only love and kindness towards others is a scar on our society, but it has been recognised and hopefully we are now taking steps to prevent such things.

Never before have so many people in wealthy developed countries given regularly to help those in poorer developing countries.

Never before have women enjoyed their rightful place in society as they do now. Though some institutions run by men still seek to dominate women for their own egos and self-gratification, women have proved that they can lead as well as men and in many cases far better.

Never before have we been so easily able to communicate around the globe or perform so many functions with the aid of computers.

In many parts of the world we are lifting living standards. It is true that greed and desire for power continue to dominate the lives of many as they have done since the world began, but it is also true that love, compassion and generosity continue to be the guiding light for the vast majority.

If we can channel the assertiveness of the “me” generation into influencing governments to build an “us” world where we try our hardest to help one another, then we face a great future.

Let us also try to be tolerant of one another. If we have a religious faith, let us faithfully serve our deity without pouring scorn on the deity of others. For all we know, we may simply worship the same God under a different name. If we believe that religion is nonsense, then let us enjoy that position without ridiculing those who don’t agree with us. That we do things differently surely reflects the great diversity in human nature.

In 2011, let us seek to influence governments to run our nations and states for the benefit of the people, rather than for those who pay politicians and political parties in the certain expectation of having public policy and projects deliver them vast personal wealth in return. That we even recognise this endemic corruption of democracy is a good thing. It will easily be eliminated when we, the people, know, support and communicate with as many politicians as we possibly can. It is our neglect of them after election that creates the vacuum into which corruption flows.

Whether we support one political party, all of them or none, let us work constructively together, recognising that there are good, bad and okay in all parties as in society itself.

May this Christmas and next year be the best for you and those you love.  May we use the year to improve the position of those most in need of our assistance.

FairGO