Meeting of the Parliament
Meeting date: Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Official Report
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Time for Reflection
Good afternoon. The first item of business this afternoon is time for reflection. Our time for reflection leader today is the Right Rev Albert Bogle, the moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
The Right Rev Albert Bogle (Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland)
I am delighted to be able to bring to the Parliament the greetings of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and I hope that, over the next few days, I will be able to catch up with many of you going about your daily business here in the Parliament.
We cannot hide from the contradictions of our shrinking planet. Even if we wanted to, the technology in our hands forces us to look at a world that seems to be broken for some while for others it is a world of opportunity and hope.
It is that knowledge that turns us from independent individuals into interdependent communities. The retort of Citizen Cain, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”, demands an answer in the affirmative from all of us—“Yes, I am my brother’s keeper.” In a strange reversal of lyrics, it is you and I who have the whole world in our hands.
The roles and motives of professional politicians are often questioned not only by the media but too often by those whom we want most to serve. That continual scrutiny brings with it unique pressures and demands on family life. The burn-out among politicians, doctors and nurses and ministers is higher than many dare to admit. We are losing some of our best people from our public service.
The personal cost among those who seek to be their brother’s keeper is often high. Learning how to sustain ourselves, keep focus and hold our vision is not always easy.
Christians believe that, when we come before God in prayer, we find a new strength. The Hebrew writer describes it in the book of Isaiah:
“But those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not grow faint.”
May the presence of the Almighty raise us up to more than we could ever be on our own. Amen.