On Saturday, the Bishop of Chelmsford, Guli Francis-Dehqani, spoke of the conflict in her native Iran with personal understanding, some anger, heart-felt compassion for the suffering… She challenged the lack of clarity regarding the aims of the war:
‘Without clear aims it’s impossible to properly assess whether the cause of this war is just, whether there is a reasonable chance of success or whether the end is proportionate to the means. If the aim of war is peace, then what is the peace for which this war is being fought?’
Last night we watched the world indoor athletics championships from Poland. Within a period of half an hour British women won three gold medals. Keely Hodgkinson won the 800m; Georgia Hunter Bell won the 1500m; Molly Caudery won an exciting pole vault competition. Three excellent athletes aiming to win and succeeding!
Saturday was a good day for Norwich City. We played well and won at Charlton. The aim in a football match… and any sporting activity… is easy to determine.
Yesterday I talked to three gents with clear aims in their respective lives. Nick is currently out of work, has made several job applications, and is looking for employment. Harry is planning to emigrate to New Zealand, has negotiated various legal requirements, and is about to put his house on the market. Shaun, having battled with addictions and recently come out of rehab, is determined to stay clean, find spiritual truth and establish a consistent life pattern.
This morning, I read about the Desert Father Moses the Strong, aka Moses the Black. Leader of a gang of terrorists and robbers he converted to Christianity and become a monk. Moses said:
‘Do no harm to anyone; do not think anything bad in your heart towards anyone; do not scorn the man who does evil, do not put confidence in him who does wrong to his neighbour; do not rejoice with him who injures his neighbour…’
Sounds like a pretty clear aim to muse on and live by…
malcolmsmusings.org 