We live in shaking times. Things that once had value are no longer in. Antique dark wood furniture sells now for a fraction of what it used to at auction houses. Videos that were once costly to purchase have been superseded by DVDs. Many charity shops will not even take them as there is little or no market for them. In turn DVDs are now not so in demand because people are watching more films through monthly subscriptions. Similarly I was brought up reading books and newspapers. The internet has brought a revolution in digital behaviour seeing the development of ebooks and online news on a variety of devices including PCs, laptops, Tablets and mobile phones. There has also been changes in the work place. Increasingly robots and technology have replaced people. The work place can be remote because of technological advances or even world wide. Markets have opened up for businesses and personnel in response to market forces. There are winners and losers. In turn society has faced challenges because of change. Unemployment has grown in certain industries. Big employers are no longer around or have shrunk considerably. Our manufacturing base has declined whilst service industries have grown. Social problems have been helped and hindered by technology. A few years ago the term cyber bullying was not there. Today sadly it has become a blight on many lives. Similarly pornography has found its way into homes through the internet. People are relying on food banks as they are hungry. Debt has grown and people struggle to make ends meet. Relationship breakdown is common. Mental health in young people is at a level not known before. Our NHS is under strain and the care of the elderly a massive challenge. Many people don’t know people where they live and feel isolated. It is so easy to feel overwhelmed by all of these things and more. And then there is Brexit.. And Trump.. Ongoing terrorist threats.. Refugees fleeing war.. And so many more international issues..

A few days ago it was announced in the UK that we were having an election. I was driving my car and listening to some classical music and suddenly the music was stopped and the announcement made. I was shocked. I had not had any inkling that this was going to happen. As I began to get used to the idea I chatted with others who were similarly surprised. People had different views whether having an election was good or bad. The media appeared to have been caught unawares and had to change gear very quickly. I have been listening carefully to what the political parties have been saying but in my heart I am quite disillusioned. And yet I know it is important to engage and consider who I should support as people in the past campaigned to get the vote for everyone. I have got quite cynical about political spin and yet I know that those who do get in power will impact our nation and beyond so it is important to try and get beyond this.

I have entitled this post ‘time to move forward on our knees’. Why? I guess it reflects the conviction I have that only in the place of humility and dialogue both with God and man can a way be made through all the challenges we face today. I am not convinced that adversarial politics is the way forward. A ping pong exchange of words to try and put the other party down at every opportunity. People are tired of politicians putting so much energy into undermining the opposition. Ways forward may only come through everybody bringing what they have to the table and looking at what can help our nation in the hour it is in to bring hope, overcome darkness and liberate the oppressed. I don’t know if you are political. It is good to be confident but not arrogant. Sometimes political allegiance can compromise your values and beliefs. Wisdom and discernment is needed to be true to who you are when faced with dilemmas and choices that cause conflict in this way.

Years ago I visited parliament as an A’level student. I remember sitting in the viewing gallery and being quite shocked at some MPs behaviour in the way they mocked the opposition in their words and manner. Psalm 1 speaks of being blessed by not sitting “in the company of mockers.” (verse 1). This is a challenge when the the system of adversarial politics can appear to endorse this behaviour. And yet it is not impossible to be different. There are many men and women of integrity in Parliament, in Town Halls and local party headquarters. And there are young people who want to do politics differently.

The Psalmist speaks of the importance of reading the bible and applying it to make a difference. Jeremiah 17:7-8 similarly speaks about trusting God and putting confidence in him. The promise is that this person “will be like a tree planted by the water that sends its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” (NIV).

Psalm 112:4-9 says “Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful and righteous. It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with Justice. For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever. He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries. He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn is exalted in honour.”..(English Standard Version)

In the times of shaking there is an anchor. The storms may come. But underneath are the everlasting arms (Deuteronomy 33:27) of love. God is our refuge in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1). Whatever happens this election this is the hope of those who believe in Jesus. These promises are for all those who believe and all those who chose to believe. As the election comes it is good to remind myself that my trust is in God not man. And yet that does not mean I don’t engage with the world or the political process. It becomes even more important to be a voice and ask those who are standing what they believe and what they will do if elected and to share my concerns with them and from that place make a decision who to vote for. The UK is at another crossroad moment… It is time to move forward on our knees.