Plenary, 08 Nov 2000

Meeting date: Wednesday, November 8, 2000

Official Report 361KB pdf

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Time for Reflection

Today's time for reflection will be led by Robert D Kernohan, an elder of the Church of Scotland at Cramond Kirk.

Let us hear the word of God, from the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes.

"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to pull up . . . A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance . . . A time to get and a time to lose; a time to hold and a time to cast away . . . a time to keep silence, and a time to speak".

I am sure that the enigmatic cross-bench Hebrew preacher whom we call Ecclesiastes would be happy to know that you have a time for reflection. No doubt he would add a rhetorical contrast with a time to act.

However, a company of practising politicians need not be told of two practical difficulties: it is not easy to make real, individual time for reflection—quality time, in the current jargon—and it is not self-evident when it is time to act, or how to act. Such things are not easy in private or public life for those of us who confess a creed, a divine word and a Lord as the way, the truth and the life; I cannot imagine that they are easier for those who do not. However, without time for reflection we are apt to claim that we act from conviction—when we may be merely reacting to dogmatism in ourselves and in others. It may be best when, whether in traditional or unconventional form, we accept the judgment of John Buchan—that notable Scots writer who thought of himself as a Presbyterian cavalier, but who was also a parliamentarian—who said:

"Dogmatism gives way to questioning; and questioning in the end to prayer".

So let us pray.

God who created humanity in such diversity, with such capacity, noble in reason and infinite in faculty, we confess where we have fallen short, seen the better and done the worse and spoiled our own plans and obstructed yours.

Renew and restore us in reflection and constructive repentance, that we may better serve the national, civic and family communities to which we belong.

God, save our Queen. Lord, give us peace in our time and harmony at home.

Support all who bear heavy burdens. Today, we pray in particular for the candidate to be confirmed as President-elect of the USA, who will be called to his country's greatest office and heaviest burden. Sustain and guide him. Give wisdom to those judging any matters in dispute and patience and forbearance to the American people in their uncertainty.

Let us also pray for the Scottish Parliament and the Westminster Parliament, for those set in authority and all who serve under authority. We pray that all things may be so ordered and settled by their endeavours, upon the best and surest foundations, that peace and happiness, truth and justice and faith and piety may be established among us for all generations.

May the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with us all. Amen.