Light in the Darkness

A dozen years ago, my wife and I were asked to counsel a young couple who had a young child with a minor congenital deformity. They had spent tens of thousands of dollars travelling to every major paediatric hospital in the world. The consistent answer was “Why come to us when you have the world’s best back in Melbourne”. But the saddest part of the situation was the father’s family’s almost complete rejection of the child - they simply couldn’t accept that any descendant of theirs could possibly be anything less than perfect.

This is not an uncommon attitude in our ‘post-Christian’ society, and even some western Christians have great difficulty coming to terms with illness. It is soon forgotten that the wonderful life-style we can have, educational opportunities, justice, health care, ‘human rights’, the status of women, etc. are nearly all due to the work and influence of Christians. And yet society wants to keep the gifts and ignore the giver.

The ‘world’ is not a naturally ‘good’ place. Christ is The Light in the midst of the darkness - suffering and pain are NOT patches of darkness in the midst of the light. When we become Christians, we sign up in God’s army, not for a holy-day cruise. The victory’s not enjoyed until the battle’s won.

Lord, thank you for the many benefits we enjoy due to Christians over the centuries who have fought to bring enlightenment, compassion and mercy to their societies. Thank you that you have fitted us out and armed us to cope with the battles of life. And thank you for special children you give us to hone our own compassion, mercy and enlightenment.

PS. Our Royal Children’s Hospital’s motto is “Faith, Science and Love”.

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