Sunday 21st July

The word ‘myth’ is much mis-understood. It may mean an often enjoyable fantasy tale bearing little if any relationship to reality. Or it may be a story which tells the truth but in a non-historical way, like good fiction or one of Jesus’ parables. Maybe Noah never existed; but his story is both incredible and full of truth at the same time.

Disaster strikes and Noah is well-prepared. Then the terror ends and peace returns; the dove and the rainbow of that story are universal symbols of peace and hope.

The flooding in Bangladesh is of course not ‘biblical’ on the scale of that old myth; but those regular disasters must feel almost as destructive and fearsomely threatening. Added to which is the reported fact (in the news film shown in church) that some flooding is caused by human decisions elsewhere, diverting water onto an already vulnerable land.

Thank God there is some sense of human solidarity which makes a response possible and effective. The URC programme Commitment for Life funds some projects in Bangladesh which not only relieve present suffering but aim to prevent the deadly impact of the flooding. Homes on stilts, floating safe places, better drainage and a network of support are all sensible and effective responses to the regular flood. That is what we are helping to provide.

In another way the people of Bangladesh put us to shame: they have accepted over a million Rohingya refugees from neighbouring Myanmar (Burma) who have fled from the military persecution of minorities there. They share what little they have.

What we can give is a sign of solidarity. Like all preachers I frequently say that we can never do enough but we must do what we can. And Commitment for Life is as efficient a way of doing it as you can find.

Peter Brain