For good or ill

My wife and I have family in Australia and the United Kingdom and have cause to give thanks for the internet conection we have with those far away. Every week we talk and laugh with our daughter, our son-in-law and two grandsons in England. Distance seems to shrink and precious relationships are strenthened for us. But the technology that can bring such a positive boon can also be a bane. I have been sickened by accounts of the way in which unscrupulous men use the net to lure children into sexual relationships. Technical advances without moral development can be disastrous and that is the biggest problem we face.

A culture of violence

When I lived in north America I was taken aback to discover police offices in some schools, apparently required in order to cope with violent and other crimes. Will that become necessary in Australia? News of a thirteen-year-old charged with murder is a chilling omen. Violence against overseas students is something else which causes concern and affects our reputation abroad and dents our Aussie pride. Window shopping in the CBD in an evening may no longer be a safe option for many. One could not identify a single cause for the fact that we seem to be developing a culture of violence but it may have something to do with the diet of entertainment served up by the media. Programme after programme on the telly features mayhem and murder as do the video games which fill the minds of impressionable kids. Small wonder if seeing becomes behaving and copycat violence increases!

Blow away

My wife and I attended the annual dinner of the Salvation Army Veterans Band in Melbourne. Back in the eighties I played a small part in the formation of this group which was just intended to be for a a special weekend of celebration. All these years later it is still going strong with fifty members and a well-filled diary of engagements. The fellowship of these older Army bandsmen is terrific and their music making is of a high standard. Age doesn't seem to weary them and sharing their company is inspirational. Old bandsmen never die they only blow away - and thrive in the process!

Technicalities and incompetence

I am vastly impressed by the technical progress which makes possible worldwide communication at great speed. But the human element is still crucial. We still suffer from the incompetence and slackness of staff who fail to use the means of communication available to them. We should all realise how what we do (or fail to do) impacts others. In our dealings none of us is perfect but we should aim to be.

Regeneration

I visited the scene of last year's disastrous bush fires which cost the lives of 173 people in Victoria, Australia. The blackened remains of trees and empty spaces where houses stood are reminders of the fearsome fires which roared through the area faster than one could drive a car. But the green shoots on trees and the rebuilding of homes indicate that renewal is taking place. The aftermath is still apparent in the lives of somewho survived and The Salvation Army is among the organizations working to bring healing and renew hope. I believe in regeneration for the human spirit and there is evidence that this is happening. Of course, it can take place anywhere where the fires of misfortune have brought disaster. There are no hopeless cases only people who have lost hope but who can find it again with God's help.

A tower of strength

Many years ago I read that some people call the Christian story a tall story but it has stood without toppling for 2,000 years and been a tower of strength to multitudes. As a senior citizen I can look back over many years, and checking out those words testify that they are true. My recipe for living is to trust in God and follow the example of Jesus Christ. There is no better way.