Overcoming hopeless situations
(republishing, copying, no restrictions)
By: Father Shay Cullen
The following was delivered at Bath University this October as my contribution to the Meriol Trevor annual lectures to commemorate her life and writings.
Before the age of printing mass literacy, radio and television that was story telling. The oral traditions of all cultures have honoured the story tellers who passed on the wisdom, history, moral codes and much more from one generation to another. Above all the value of life and survival were passed on to children by stories and many of us will remember the bed time stories of our childhood as happy memories of caring parents and older brothers or sisters, aunties and uncles. In today’s world there is hardly time for this anymore and the power of imagination in young people is weakened, the values of life are diminished and the love of reading among young people has all but vanished.
Meriol Trevor, knew the inestimable value of a well written and well read story, not only that she wrote to inspire hope and optimism in children, to inspire and imbue them with confidence that the trials and tribulations, the fears and uncertainties of life can and would be overcome.
That in dangerous and uncertain situations, sadness and loss there is positive and powerful experience there too that gives us strength and insight. In the seemingly pain of powerlessness strength can be found, in times of apparent defeat, a victory can be won, in pain and suffering, we can find endurance and steadfastness. When things seem hopeless, there is still a chance for optimism and the seemingly impossible can be made possible by sheer faith that we can with determination and commitment to truth, honesty, justice and the love of each other we can overcome evil, corruption and the exploitation that is so rampant in our world, today more than ever before it seems. Beauty can be found in the dying and decaying leave of Autumn, their passing is not a dark and pointless death but in the brilliance of their colourful departure they renew and nourish the soil from which the seeds spring bring renewed life to farm and forest - Life comes from death.
In modern history too we see seemingly hopeless situations of death and oppression cruelty and brutality come changed for the better by those who believed that there was light beyond the darkness of ignorance and unbelief. Slavery 200 years ago was an acceptable form of economic development. It was what oil is to us today an energy that drives economic growth and prosperity. But the suffering to the people was ignored as it is today as hundreds of thousands die in the bloody contest for oil dominance in Iraq and Sudan.
It is 200 years since the commitment and dedication of William Wilberforce and Thomas Clarkson passed a law to abolish slavery, all of it against the odds against public opinion and accepted practice impossible as it was they believed that from this evil, good would come, from slavery - freedom, from oppression - dignity and an end of exploitation and so it was.
It’s a signal that we today, need to trust, encourage, and inspire young people in their idealism. We need to be prophetic outspoken and active in defending and promoting human rights and the dignity of the human person. It teaches us that political action motivated by gospel values can have a global impact and benefit the lives of millions. This is what William Wilberforce achieved with the help of his supporters and friends. It only takes one to say no to injustice for millions to say yes to freedom.
What inspired and motivated William Wilberforce and what we need to practice and proclaim so urgently today is a love that is unselfish, compassionate, challenging and liberating. This is what can help the people in Darfur and Chad, Burma, Asia and Africa, Palestine and Iraq. It is a love that finds non-violent ways to solve conflicts. It replaces hatred and revenge with justice and truth, it supplants aggression and arrogance with dialogue and diplomacy, and it sows seeds for mutual recognition of the respect and dignity of all. It is compassion; it is working for justice and peace, protecting human rights and safeguarding women and children above all. (To be continued)
