In last month’s CONTACT Nigel wrote about HOPE, and how ‘in community life, we will have to face the fact that certain things will die in our communities, but there will also be new life.’ He related this to Easter and to Jesus’ death and resurrection and invited comments from readers.
A few people have responded…….
Are you a Creationist or an Evolutionist? In other words, do you believe that the heavens and earth were made by God in just 6 days as it says in Genesis, or do you think all life forms have evolved over the years as put forward in Darwin’s Theory of Evolution?
I subscribe to the latter theory although I believe that God set the whole thing in motion. It follows then that change is inevitable otherwise there will be no growth, everything will stagnate. The past is just that – PAST – and while we may respect and treasure things from the past, we have to live in the NOW. With each generation humans increase in their knowledge of the world and, especially in recent years, have to develop and accommodate new ideas and technologies. This means change.
Of course, we also have to make sensible provision for the FUTURE and keep an eye on changes that might adversely affect our lives and those of our children in the years to come.
But we don’t have to accept change just for the sake of change.
There are several changes afoot that threaten our rural way of life in this area of Britain and are causing concern. I will mention two of them.
First – the possible closure of some rural Post Offices which will cause hardship for many. We may protest but some closures seem inevitable. Use it or lose it is perhaps the best course of action.
Secondly – across Breckland there are many sites which have been identified as suitable for mineral extraction and some for landfill; two of these are in our Benefice – at Bridgham and West Harling.
The development of such sites on the outskirts of our villages would have a great impact on our quality of life and on the environment.
There’s much more to be considered than the effect on wildlife or the financial benefits accruing to the landowners and no one wants to have a gravel pit in their back yard. However while we continue to live as we do, wanting bigger and better houses, better roads etc, we have to accept that the gravel has to come from somewhere! And it’s our rubbish that goes into landfill sites.
Compromise? Changes on all sides, I think. V.S.
****************************************
I am what some may consider a ‘Suffering Christian’ but I have found much to be joyful about in my faith.
Some time ago I came across the following – “Is my faith central to my whole life or just one of the many leisure options on offer?” It made me stop and take stock. Thankfully it has proved to be the former not the latter.
I am positive there are many ‘Suffering’ folk who will testify that through a Living Faith, Joy is what bubbles up from our well of delight in the Lord.
Maybe Nigel thinks this way, as, as he has stated to me personally, in fact he stressed it twice in a very agitated manner, that there is no positive in suffering. It appears that the author has placed people into ill fitting boxes. L.S
*******************************************
When I first lived in this village I was the typical dormer villager - living in the village but working and playing elsewhere. I knew almost nobody and Harling was just a place to live. However, I then joined the church and my husband joined the social club and we got to know people and became a part of this village. I can honestly say it as the best thing we ever did. Harling is now our home and while we have had to live elsewhere for a while, we came back as soon as we could and like to think we are true members of this community.
I would encourage everyone living in the village to support our local events (be they church events, social club events, local groups etc) and be as full a member of this community as possible. You will get much more out of it than you put in! R.A