Plenary,

Meeting date: Wednesday, May 3, 2000

Official Report 366KB pdf

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Time for Reflection

The first item of business is time for reflection, which will be led by Reverend Rachel Dobie, minister of the parishes of Upper Tweeddale.

Once upon a time, so the story goes, when humankind was very new, the custom arose of putting spectacles on all newborn babies. No one knows why it was done, but the effect was to distort colours so that black appeared white and red appeared green. They also distorted shapes, so that fat appeared thin, near became far, and so on. Most alarming was that slight variations were applied to the lenses according to social and cultural origin, so that groups of people began to see one another as horrible or superior, and so quarrelling began, even in public places. However, the custom of wearing the spectacles became universal, and in time, people hardly realised that they were wearing them at all. Sadly, no control was ever introduced regarding the variations that could be made to the lenses, and so in time, the world was filled with the sound of quarrelling, hatred and even warfare.

But then there was born a baby who would not wear the spectacles. He saw people as they really were, and they appeared to him so alike. They had the same needs, fears and desire to be loved, and although they addressed God by different names, they were in one sense all his children. So what he saw as he grew up shocked and distressed him. He tried to teach people, and many listened, moved by what he had to say:

"Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you and pray for those who ill-treat you. Do not judge others and God will not judge you; do not condemn others and God will not condemn you. Forgive others and God will forgive you."

Most of those who heard him found that what he said made sense, and they tried to follow him and put into practice what he taught, but others were infuriated. It challenged their way of life, and they insisted that they were not all the same, and how could everyone be equally loved and equally valued in the eyes of God? So they hated him. Suddenly they were united in one single aim to be rid of him and all he stood for, and they crucified him.

Although evil was overcome, sadly the spectacles that are described in this Indian parable are still worn in some measure by all of us. As we look back over two millennia, we can see how intolerance on the grounds of race and gender has been outlawed and attitudes have changed, but we still tend to view matters from the point of view of our own interests and prejudices. Political and religious leaders have recently acknowledged past wrongs, and endeavoured to set new standards nationally and internationally, but still situations are allowed to develop that permit injustice to gain the upper hand. We still have a long way to travel.

My prayer for those who are in a position to exercise leadership, to formulate legislation, is this. That we may always be ready to stand beside the oppressed and the victims of injustice. That we may have the courage to speak out against what seems to fly in the face of truth. That we may learn to act with foresight, rather than react with hindsight. Much has changed since the calls to crucify, but much still calls out for change.

May God's blessing rest on your work this week and always. Amen.