January 1-2 – Fear )part one)

“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all” - Psalm 34:17-19

Peter was scared. It was his first time in hospital. He thought it would be a quick visit to A & E and then home – but instead he was admitted. Could things get worse?

Peter wrote, "I have never been in hospital before and was terrified. Everything was so strange and I felt so far from home and alone. I was completely unprepared for the idea it was anything serious or that I would need to stay overnight."

In those moments of fear the greatest need is for reassurance. For hope. For compassion. That is exactly what Peter got.

"There was a nurse called Ruby and she was taking my questionnaire and it asks about religion. I said I was an Adventist and it turns out she was too and at the end of the admittance she took my hand and prayed with me. I have never been so grateful for anything in my life 'cause suddenly I knew God was in that room and in this hospital."

Those few moments of compassion made such a difference. Thank God for people like Ruby who let her Christian love shine through. Posting on his local church's Facebook page Peter concluded, "I haven't seen Ruby since but I'm hoping this message will find her. I'd like her to know how grateful I am for her kindness and I'd like you all to know how much I appreciate being part of your community."

Peter's experience is a microcosm of the hope we as Seventh-day Adventists can bring to the world around us. I remember sitting on a plane shortly after 9/11. I was on a flight from Washington Dulles back to London. The flight was delayed for take-off due to a passing thunderstorm, but I got into conversation with an American lady sitting near me who was clearly nervous. Flying to Europe she was concerned about safety. Would she be targeted by extremists as an American wandering around Knightsbridge? Was it safe to travel to Paris? We spent about 20 minutes in conversation. By the time the flight took off, she was reassured. Hope instead of fear.

Of course, since then London has had its 7/7 attacks and much more. Paris has suffered twice this year, and the migrant crisis has heightened both people's fears and their compassion.

The fear side is best expressed by the likes of Donald Trump, the man seeking the Republican nomination for the US presidency. In yet another outrageous statement that has brought worldwide condemnation he called for a ban on Muslims entering the USA ‒ a knee-jerk reaction to the shootings in San Bernardino, California, last week. The politics of fear.

There is another way – the way of compassion. A way expressed by the President of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America and expressed so eloquently that it was picked up by The Huffington Post. It is worth reposting in its entirety here:

To close the door to refugees cannot be an option.

To 'welcome' them by marking them with shame and suspicion is unacceptable.

To incite fear based on prejudice is irresponsible.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are compelled to welcome ALL who are seeking refuge.

“so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands” - Deuteronomy 14:29

“The Broken Ones” performed by Lauren Talley has been chosen for music today