Dear Friends,

The futureπs bright, the futureπs orange ä Is that bright and Orange in the commercial sense, or is it bright and orange in the physical sense (i.e. getting significantly hotter and dryer as we speak)? Is the Greenland ice-cap really melting at such a rate that we will have a 7-metre rise in sea-level within ten years, and London will be under water; or is it all baloney and in reality we are going into a period of global cooling - hence the inclement summer weather for the past year or so? (These examples from conversations Iπve had with two different people on the same day). Since I wrote the June Benefice Bulletin however, there have been real, significant changes in our society which cannot be ignored or denied. The credit crunch is upon us. Yesterday, in the middle of July, the cheapest petrol in Market Drayton was 119.9p a litre. What will it be by the time this bulletin is published? 125p? Some predict it will be over £2 by the end of the year. Companies are cutting staff, houses are impossible to sell, food is much dearer. It seems that the grimmer predictions are coming true; the bubble is bursting, life is about to become a lot harder. What is going to happen to us, what of the future? In the Red Lion at Cheswardine there is a plaque on the wall by the ladiesπ loo which records the words of Churchill: 'A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. By nature Iπm a bit inclined to be pessimistic, on the grounds that all my surprises will be nice ones; but I can see thatπs not helpful in the current situation. Maybe looking on the bright (not the bright orange) side of life even in these worrying times is worth a punt ≠ so here goes! What are the benefits of not having it quite so good? For one thing, perhaps more of us (and our kids) will get digging and planting for food. It would be good for everyoneπs health and fitness. Who needs an expensive gym when a trusty fork will provide all the exercise we need? (Iπm talking to myself here, a bit of effort in the garden, and surely those extra pounds will just melt (like the ice-caps?) away; and the bonus is that what Iπm eating thereafter is stuffed with goodness.) Vegetable gardeners of the Benefice unite and give the rest of us some pointers! On the wider (local) food front itπs great to see our farmers growing more and more and åsetting asideπ less and less. One report I read said that farmerπs sons who had left home because they felt there was no living to be had in farming are coming back for good. I do hope thatπs true ≠ I jumped for joy when I read it. (Hard to imagine, I know, it does happen if Iπm sufficiently delighted!) Secondly, we are social creatures, we are made to live in community. Hardship tends to increase that sense of community. Family, friends and neighbours always rally if there is a fire, a flood, or a tragedy; and, although these currently challenging times arenπt emergencies as such, the increasing pressure on each familyπs resources does create a long-term threat to our well-being. When we share what we have, then everyone benefits. It always surprises me how much is left over after åbring and shareπ events. Plenty for all. My third point is somewhat controversial, I know, but as a Christian I feel I must make it (though you do not have to be a Christian to agree and respond.) Times may be harder for us but they have been and are increasingly a lot harder for folk in other countries. How must it be to have no water, no food, no freedom? To see many of the babies of your village dying of Aids? To be overwhelmed by natural or man-made disaster, or both? To have to create a new life with half oneπs family swept away? We cannot ignore the fact that we also belong to a larger community, the community of humankind, and that, however little we have, sharing some of it with åthemπ, however different or distant from us åtheyπ are, will only make us richer. That might seem an odd thing to write, but Iπm basing it on remarks of Jesus himself who spend most of his time identifying with the poor and needy. Give, and will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it shall be measured to you. People I know that have tried this have discovered that you canπt out-give God. The future, by definition, cannot be known. Whoever we are and whatever our political or religious beliefs, we have to trust for it. We may rely on newspaper reports, scientific research, our own self-confidence ≠ but we canπt be sure, we canπt know, we must trust. Iπm inclined to put my faith in the One who I believe knows the future, because He is outside as well as inside time and has a better view of all things, people, and needs, and resources than I could ever have. But then I would say that, wouldnπt I? Rev Linda Chapman