2016 is not going to be a year
that is remembered fondly in the annals of history. This was a year that saw
the death of many prominent public figures, political upheaval and humanitarian
crises. In the UK, the nation has spent the second half of the year coming to
terms with the seismic decision to leave the European Union after 40 years of
membership. This event caused division among families and communities, as those
who wanted to leave the EU viewed the referendum as an opportunity to reassert
UK sovereignty and minimise levels of immigration, those who voted to remain
saw the economic benefits of freedom of movement.
The result of the vote cannot be
unwound but it is the duty of everyone to ensure that they build bridges with colleagues,
friends and family who may have had a different opinion on the issue. From this
foundation, we must also make clear to our elected representatives that we want
them to engage constructively with our European partners in ensuring as
dignified an exit as possible from the EU and build the conditions for a
prosperous future relationship.
In the USA, there was the most
divisive election campaign in history culminating in the victory of Donald
Trump, the flamboyant businessman who had never held any political office. This
caused a backlash among supporters of the vanquished Hillary Clinton, some of
whom took to the streets protesting with shouts of “we reject the President
Elect”. There have been concerns over proposals to build a wall to keep out
Mexican migrants and potential to increase investment in weapons of mass
destruction.
Similar to the Brexit scenario,
it will serve our world better for all sides in the USA to come together and constructively
resolve to move forward together in the new era. This healing may not be
something that happens overnight but shutting out other citizens over their
political viewpoint has historically never been constructive in ensuring
national cohesion. Equally for our own nation, we must hope our government
demonstrates the discernment to be an able partner for the new President rather
than turning our backs and renouncing any influence.
Another pressing issue in the
past year has been the bombardment of Aleppo in the Syrian civil war. There has
been many heart breaking scenes of pain and oppression from this war torn
country. There may not be a single person who can bring the war to an end but
the least we can do as citizens of a prosperous country is to do our best in
supporting fundraising and humanitarian mission efforts to bring shelter and succour
to a besieged people. We must also put pressure on our elected representatives
to bring about a constructive end to the war rather than allowing a regional
disagreement to potentially escalate into a world war and the biggest
humanitarian crisis in world history.
In that first Christmas, we are
introduced to young, expectant parents in the Middle East on a journey to
register at a census during politically uncertain times and the arrival of a
baby who is introduced to us as a gift from God to bring redemption and healing
to mankind. We are presented with a story that has resonated through the ages
with the qualities of inclusion and mercy, shining a guiding light to the heart
of the human condition.
In the famous 1951 Christmas
movie based on the 19th century Charles Dickens novel A Christmas Carol, the miserly Ebenezer
Scrooge is taken to task by three spirits, with the spirit of Christmas Present
pointedly noting that Scrooge had rejected the gift of the babe of Bethlehem
and that we need to keep Christmas in our hearts every day of the year. The
movie has a happy ending with Scrooge becoming a changed man by reaching out to
the poor and showing a generosity of spirit to all. The closing scene of the
movie proclaims that it was said of the newly changed Scrooge that he kept
Christmas well.
As we look towards a new year
filled with many challenges and apparent instability, it should be our hope
that it will be said of us all that we keep Christmas well, demonstrating
everyday kindness to all whom we encounter. If we want to create a better future,
it doesn’t happen with muttering over big political events, but must start with
us all trying to shape the world around us. The demonstration of kindness,
mercy and generosity will be the true mark of keeping Christmas well in our own
lives and be a reflection of the light that the old Christmas story brings to
our lives, offering the opportunity for 2017 to be the antidote to a bitter and
divisive year. A very happy Christmas and every blessing for the new year to
you all.
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