| Myanmar is mired in violence, protracted conflict, and economic hardship. These are too often exacerbated by fear, hatred, and distrust. This is why there are so many refugees in Bangladesh. In partnership with Christian Aid, Commitment for life is determined to make a difference. Our theology and shared experience in peace building work make us believe in the value and effectiveness of dialogue as a tool to build trust and strong relationships. We (Kevin, Lindsey, and Philip) met online recently with the Revd Ram Thanga, General Secretary of the Presbyterian Church in Myanmar (PCM). His son is a leader in the struggle for democracy in the face of the military coup. Ram Thanga believes in dialogue but worries for his son. He knows that “God is able to fulfil our dreams if we have a desire to serve him with sincerity, humbleness and together constant prayer.” Let’s pray for the PCM.
A genuine attempt to engage in open and honest dialogue often provides opportunities to share feelings, understand different points of view, and to reflect on situations and facts using the worldview of our dialogue partners. Our partner Christian Aid has developed – through a project called ‘Sagar Wine’ (culture of dialogue) in Rakhine State, Myanmar – a training manual for dialogue. In three creative and interactive modules, with many visuals, participants can explore personal development, understand the dynamics of conflict, and practise dialogue facilitation skills. Could this be useful in your local, UK context? Give it a try. The manual ‘Building a Culture of Dialogue’ is available in English. |
| Christmas as resistance |
| Luke 1:46-55, 2:10-12
Julie Sim from the Council for World Mission reminds us that Mary’s Prayer is a revolutionary song – not just a spiritual hymn but a social and political revolution in rousing verse. ‘It is,’ she asserts, ‘a declaration of liberation and emancipation, a construction of a new social order for all people to live with hope.’ ‘The language of the angel is political: this child is the anti-Caesar; this babe will radically oppose the designs of Empire. In this anti-empire reading of the story, we see how ‘the family’ experiences the political, social, and spiritual consequences of choosing to resist rather than succumb to empire. ‘Empires tend to follow one another through history. They all manifest themselves in domination, arrogance, self-congratulation, and wealth distribution to the top. If there are differences currently from previous times, it is only that today’s empires are significantly more efficient in their devastation of cultures, species, and the planet itself in pursuit of profit. ‘This New Year, may we develop a renewed discernment of the subversiveness of Christmas. May we pledge allegiance not to power, violence, and economic exploitation, but to the Jesus of life-flourishing communities.’ Prayer O God, we come to you this Christmas with grateful hearts. We praise you for the gift of Jesus. We are deeply thankful that Jesus changes our stories of hardship into testimonies of hope. We rejoice in all the great things you have done. Guide us, O God, so we can bear witness to your love, grace, and justice. Amen. |
