A Year of Change and No Change

New Zealand earthquakes. Japan Tsunami. Japanese nuclear power stations. The Arab spring. Tunisia. Egypt. Yemen. Libya. Gadhafi’s death. Syria. Egypt again. Bin Laden’s death. Royal Wedding. Norwegian shootings. Riots in London. Riots in Britain. Phone hacking. Somalia famine. Turkey earthquake. Pakistan floods. Philippines floods. Anti-capitalist camps. Greece crash. Italy Prime Minister. Euro troubles. Euro veto.

And the year is not over. 2011 is one of those years when more has happened than we can begin to write down. A lot of it tragic. But one thing remains the same: ‘I the Lord do not change’ (Bible: Malachi 3:6).

The Happiness Survey (2)

The latest results from the Office of National Statistics happiness survey – carried out earlier this year and interviewing over 4000 adults- shows money doesn’t make for happiness. The survey shows that as a nation we have a happiness index of 7.4 out of 10. The same score as last time, despite a real downturn in the economy.

What did show up was what a lack of a job did. Here the index went right down to the low 6’s. People need to be valued, to have a purpose, to be able to provide for others. We are a ‘people’ people. Work is what is valued above money.

As we’ve been told over the years, riches can’t buy happiness. And the statistics show it to be true.

Money can buy a house, but not peace; medicine, but not health; amusement, but not joy; therapy, but not healing; a bed, but not sleep; allies, but not friends.

A final word from the writer of Proverbs: Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.

Stigma

You can read all about leprosy. You can look at the photo’s. You can study its effects. But it’s only when you look into the eyes of the leprosy patient that you realise how vile a disease leprosy is.

I spent two days at the Leprosy Mission Hospital in Kolkata last month. For me, as part of a three week trip to India, it was the most hard-hitting part of the trip. There were two looks in the eyes of the patients as I toured the wards. One was of hope, trusting the hospital could do all that was needed for them.

The other was of despair. A young man was there, 24 years old. He has already lost all his fingers and toes. He should have come earlier, but it’s not the disease, which is treatable nowadays, it’s the stigma. He didn’t come earlier because of the shame of the disease.

The Indian government are doing all they can to take away the stigma. But it’s still there. A lady in her 70’s was late for an appointment. The reason; the bus driver had seen she had leprosy and wouldn’t let her on the bus. This is the truth of the most stigmatized disease in history. No wonder Jesus centred on the person with leprosy. He knew to look in the eyes.

When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say....

Over the last three weeks, I have had the immense privilege of working with some of the most wonderful people in the world. I'm sure there will be more stories to follow, but this seems appropriate with Remembrance Day around the corner. 

During my time in Nagaland, an extreme North-East State in India, I was able to drive to Kohima. Here there is one of the best kept war cemeteries I have seen, a memorial to all those who gave their lives in what was the turning point in the Indian war against the Japanese in 1944. Amongst the thousands of graves, each one recording a British or Indian soldier, usually in their early twenties, there is a poem, called the Kohima Epitaph, and copied by many other war memorials. This is what it says:

When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say,
For your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today.


Simple and poignant. Still as true today. Let's not forget.

Roller Coasters

I remember taking Lois on the roller-coaster. I didn’t want to go, but Lois, aged about seven at the time, would have none of it! It was okay. In fact I quite enjoyed it. The initial fear was replaced by mild apprehension which turned into a pleasurable ride.

That’s how I feel right now on the eve of another trip to India. This time for three weeks in three different places. There is always some apprehension- a very different country, the responsibility of leading three teams, safety on the roads, and so on…

But I’m pretty sure all that will change as I get off the plane at Hyderabad. The sights and smells will bring back a flood of memories, all of them good.

And so the ride begins….

REPOST: Follow Your Heart: Steve Jobs, 1955 - 2011

A REPOST FROM MAY 2009

"Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything, all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure; these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.

Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked.

There is no reason not to follow your heart.

Death is very likely the single best invention of life. It’s life’s change agent; it clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you. But someday not too long from now, you will gradually become old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic but it’s quite true.

Your time is limited so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped in dogma, which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice, and most important, have the courage to follow your heart."

Speech to Stanford College from Steve Jobs, CEO, Apple Computer and Pixar Animation

Fried Brains, Warm Friendships

Having completed my introductory weeks at Mattersey Hall for the Masters in Theology, I must admit to a case of ‘fried brains’! There’s a whole different world out there! The level and excellence of thinking from the lecturers is almost too much for someone that hasn’t studied in about 30 years. But along with the fried brains, there were many warm friendships. It is so good to met others that seem as crazy as me, paying someone to put you through mental torture!

More warm friendships on the way… In a week I will be in India again, for three weeks this time. It will be good to renew old friendships and continue to help with the Esther girls and medical camps. The teams are ready…. different people over the three weeks. So lots of warm friendships and some warm weather too!