Without Vision, the People Perish!

As we read in the Old Testament.

Writing in the middle of May, the election is over, a new Government is in power, each party has claimed a victory of sorts, and a most curious bloodbath has begun. Goodness knows who will be leading the two traditionally main parties by the time you come to read this.

One of the features of the election campaign was a concentration on personalities, rather than policies; people leading and in parties, rather than on the things which actually make a difference to people’s lives.

It seems to me that one of the most important messages we should be giving both our politicians, and the media who communicate them to us, is that we want them to grow up, to concentrate on the things that matter, to raise the level of political debate in this country, and to stop wasting so much air-time on side issues.

We are an enormously wealthy and influential country - the 4th richest in the world, I believe - with a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, with an important voice in the European Union, and with important links to the USA and the Commonwealth.

How much was this reflected in the election campaign, and how much have you heard about it since?

We are at a turning point in history - the global population crisis, our ever increasing awareness of environmental issues, our acute awareness of poverty around the world, our share in unjust and unfair trade practices which disadvantage our neighbours in other parts of the world - all of these are things which should concern us much more than some of the much more minor issues which were focused upon during the weeks leading up to the election.

And that is leaving aside more domestic issues - how do we ensure that all of our children receive the good education that they deserve, undisturbed by other children disrupting lessons? How do we ensure that whose behaviour is out of control, and their families, are helped and supported in their parenting? How do we ensure that all our citizens feel a part of society as a whole, and that we all understand that we all have a responsibility for each individual, and for the welfare of all families, children, disabled people, elderly, and others who can so easily be on the margin?

And, in an area like ours, how do we ensure that the great human potential of all the people of our parish is maximised, so that all can grow into the image of God in which they have been made?

Irrespective of which party governs the country, these questions remain the same.

As constituents, we should be urging our MPs (and we are in the most unusual position of having three in this Parish - two Labour and one Liberal Democrat) to concentrate on these issues, for the good of our country, our people, and the world in general.

And as Christians, we should be praying for our political leaders, for vision, for courage, for maturity in the political process, and for the ability to stand up for the right.