As a son of Belfast, now living ‘across the border’ in Dublin it pains me to read of the violence scarring my hometown these past few days. The sadness I feel is offset by the hope I experienced today with a bunch of young leaders, full of passion and potential, committed to making their worlds, and the world a better place. Committed to seeing God’s kingdom fleshed out. Prepared for the waiting that involves.
Yesterday I met two Welsh tourists, gutted that their trip to Belfast had been called off due to safety concerns. I then tried to explain to a friend some of the reasons behind what was happening without making it sound too crazy.
In advent we wait for the hope that is to come. Tonight we decorated our Christmas tree. Near the top hangs the word ‘peace’. Tonight I feel sadness as I wait and pray for peace in my hometown. The song, poem and quote were posted by 3 different friends. All seemed to resonate tonight…
A song – Stephen (David Ford)
A poem – Christmas Bells (Henry Wadsworth)
And in despair I bowed my head;
‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said;
‘For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!’
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
‘God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!’
The full poem can be found here.
A quote – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
From this blog, written about a different context but that seems to apply, whose writer goes on to add:
Just because you didn’t get what you want doesn’t mean that you are “persecuted”. It means you can’t have everything.
Just because you got outvoted by a majority in a democratic election does not mean you are “persecuted”. It means you got outvoted.
Just because you can no longer rely on a previously enjoyed advantage does not mean that you are “persecuted”. It simply means that existing laws are now being enforced and you can no longer pretend they don’t apply to you because you are part of a previously privileged group.
the soapbox 
I was standing outside the old Bewley’s on Westmorland St. beside a Welsh tourist when we got caught up in the Love Ulster riots a few years back. There were people trying to smash the window in the Centra, riot police charging everywhere and the Welsh guy was calmly talking to his friend completely convinced that they were just shooting a film. Wish I was lback iving in Dublin though the past week
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