A message from George Lee

Dear Friends,

Last night the lights went out - literally. There we were, just preparing our evening meal when the lights flickered, went out and almost as quickly came on again. The only snag was everything seemed at half power with appliances such as microwaves or phones off and lights very dim. Looking around, our home seemed the only one affected in this way. Primeval fear set in - out came the torches; the candles were located and ready! Then after half an hour, there was total darkness - oh dear, real panic! Almost as quickly the light came back and there was relief.

As I write this we are just beginning Lent, that Christian season of reflection and repen­tance, which leads up to Easter. Just as everyone is saying "aren't the daffodils early this year", so Christians are saying "isn't Easter and Lent early this year". Sorry, but the space here doesn't allow for a technical explanation of this (my excuse) but it seems such a short time since Christmas, that wonderful festival in which we celebrate the com­ing of Jesus as the Son of God born in human form. Most Midnight services on Christ­mas Eve use readings from St. John's Gospel including "In him (Jesus) was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not over­come it". This pictorial description of the message of the effect of God coming into this world is very aptly shown in our Christingle services when children receive oranges with candles in them representing Jesus as the Light of the world.

As we listen to the daily news it is very easy to feel in a depressed state, a black hole. We seem deluged with gloomy scenarios; panic on the stock markets, worries about mort­gages, recessions, etc. as well as the daily carnage in so many countries. Today's news seemed to bring a little ray of hope with Hollywood stars boycotting the Beijing Olympics to put a "spotlight on China's reluctance to bring an end to the crisis in Darfur". However, it is easy to see how emphasis on material or intellectual matters is not enough to change the world, the real change will only come through a new sense of the spiritual, of our rela­tionship with each other and our responsibility for each other. Christians believe that can be achieved when we accept Jesus as the Light of the world.

The Christingle orange described above also has a red ribbon around it. This represents the blood that Jesus shed when he was crucified for our wrongdoings on that first Good Friday. When that happened we are told that darkness came over all the land. But we know that was not the end, the light was to break through that darkness when he rose from the dead on Easter Day, giving us a new hope.

May the light of Easter shine on you all.

George

(Reader in the Revel Group).