Plenary, 03 Sep 2003

Meeting date: Wednesday, September 3, 2003

Official Report 466KB pdf

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Time for Reflection

Good afternoon and welcome back from the recess. The first item of business this afternoon is time for reflection, which will be led by the Rev Ian Dickie from Granton Baptist church in Edinburgh.

Thank you very much. It is good to be here.

A man went into a pub and, as he was waiting at the bar for his drink, he dipped his hand into the bowl of peanuts that was sitting there. A voice came from the bowl saying, "Wow, you're a really good-looking guy—such strong hands. Do you work out?"

The man was a bit taken aback. He walked away from the bar and went to the cigarette machine in the corner and, as he put his money in, the machine shouted at him, "You must be the ugliest guy I've ever seen in my life. You should have a paper bag over your head. You shouldn't be allowed out on the streets."

Stunned, the man staggered back to the bar, and the bartender said, "Sorry mate, the peanuts are complimentary, but the cigarette machine is out of order."

I'm sure that, like me, you have met your fair share of cigarette machines: people who give you a hard time; people to whom anything you say never seems to please; people whose lot in life, it seems, is to oppose everything you do and everything you say. That is just one example of things that can discourage us, pull us down, and make us ask ourselves whether what we are doing really can make a difference. It can be so easy to get sidetracked, so easy to lose our focus, so easy to lose our confidence, so easy to forget that what we are doing can and does make a difference.

I know that I have felt just like that at times: the things that I am doing or trying do not seem to be making an impact. Sometimes it is like one step forwards and two back. Resistance to the Christian message or just general apathy are common reactions. I wonder whether that rings any bells with you this afternoon. I do not know a huge amount about politics, but I know enough to suggest that you face similar problems as you seek to do your job.

As a local church leader, I am encouraged by the fact that God has called me to that task and I know that, with his help, I can make a difference. I want to suggest to you this afternoon that you too can be encouraged to know that God is there for you, and encourages his church to pray for those in authority over us—political, judicial, social and economic leaders in our communities and nations. We read in the New Testament, in 1 Timothy chapter 2, verse 1:

"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness."

If God did not think that political leaders could make a difference, he certainly would not be instructing prayer, support and thanksgiving from his church.

I came to the conclusion a while back that we cannot please everyone all of the time. It is when we cannot please anyone any of the time that we begin to worry. I do not work in a vacuum and I believe that you do not either. God can and does help us make a difference. We all have a role to play and need to be open to him and his direction in our lives.

As you begin your new term in the Parliament, be encouraged and be open to the role that God has for you as the political authority in this land. Be encouraged by the knowledge of the prayers of the Christian church. I assure you on behalf of the people of Granton Baptist church, whom I am here to represent, that we pray for and support you as you seek to make a difference in the roles that you have been given.