Hope not Hate

Last Monday, news began to filter through that children had been attacked in a Southport dance class, with the news that some had died and others were injured. The person responsible was caught and has been charged with 3 counts of murder and attempted murder. This has led to gatherings up and down the country of those protesting and clashes with the police. When my nephews were small and something bad happened, my sister told them to look for the good – look for those who are running towards to help, look to those who are ready to help.

This week, we have seen that. The first responders on the scene in Southport, the hospital workers who helped those required urgent treatment. The women who stood in front of protesters with a sign saying ‘hope not hate’. The people who gathered a day later to rebuild a wall of a mosque that was ripped down. A community coming together to clear a debris strewn road the night after. Stories across news platforms of communities coming together to help and heal, not fight.

Nothing will take away the pain of the three families whose children were taken from them that day. In the Bible, the shortest verse is two words. ‘Jesus Wept’. This is when he heard that his friend Lazurus had died. We too, weep with the families as they mourn the untimely death of their loved one and we hold them in our prayers as do many up and down the country – those who have faith and those who have none – as we look to God to bring comfort to them. And we look for ‘hope not hate ‘moving forward and to see the good in people as communities come together peacefully and show love and hope to one another.

God of Love

Be with all who mourn this day

Be with those in Southport

who have been affected in some way by last Monday’s attack,

be with the families, the emergency workers, and those caring for the victims

Help us to see the good in the world around us.

Amen