Last week we celebrated a grim anniversary: the invasion of Ukraine and the ensuing war. Like so many people, I find myself without words for the suffering that has been caused by this war. And now there is another tragedy on an unimaginable scale, the earthquakes in Syria and Turkey.
Bland religious platitudes are not a helpful response. Many of us feel incapable of responding adequately. Indeed, as bad news becomes familiar, we may have found a “fatigue” setting in. Unable to sustain the concern – we may have switched off, or at least turned down the level of our attention.
This year, the anniversary coincides with the opening days of Lent, which gives us an opportunity to do something about spiritual fatigue, which is closely linked to compassion fatigue, however it is manifesting itself. The Bible is clear about seasons of repentance:
Is not this the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself? Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? Isaiah 58
Alongside the horror of war and earthquake we are often astonished by the bravery and kindness that these tragedies bring out. I am astonished by the bravery of the women who are working as mine clearers in Ukraine, I am awed by the stamina and commitment of the rescue workers in Turkey and Syria. Although the host system to welcome refugees from Ukraine to UK has plenty of flaws, I have heard wonderful stories about stunning generosity, and real community mobilization to provide effective help.
The English word for “Lent” comes from the same root as “lengthen” and the name of the season came about because it coincides with the lengthening of the days. The sense of renewal and growth that we experience in Spring is also experienced by Christians as they make the journey through Lent towards Easter.
Lent gives us an opportunity to do something about our “compassion fatigue”. Most of us know of the strenuous discipline of fasting which Moslems practice in Ramadan. How many non-Muslims are aware that Ramadan is also a time of giving alms? How many are aware Moslems are encouraged to use the struggles of fasting to promote sympathetic understanding of what it means to be hungry?
As the passage above says, any season of repentance is a season to think about those who lack basic rights and necessities. So for us, can it be a time to reach out to the refugee in our neighbourhood, to give to aid agencies, to do something kind for that annoying family member? Probably, for most of us reading this blog, it won’t involve doing something heroically brave, but it will almost certainly involve doing something kind.
Mother Sarah
Respond
