A Message of Hope
In August of last year a large part of Beirut, capital of Lebanon was destroyed by a massive explosion that killed 204 people, injured 7,500 and left over a quarter of a million homeless. A local artist with others joined efforts to clear debris from the streets and try to restore the city. Local artist Hayat Nazer had an idea to use some of the debris to create a statue that would inspire people to unite and rebuild. Collecting broken glass and twisted materials that belonged to people’s homes before the explosion she created a statue of a woman raising Lebanon’s flag, her hair and dress flowing in the wind symbolising the city’s hopes of rising from the rubble and a new beginning. Monday 11th January marked a new beginning for all of us in remote teaching and learning and all the challenges that go with that. The story above reminds us that God uses ordinary people to be signs of his promise of renewal and restoration. “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43) We are reminded in this season of Epiphany that God is with us on our life’s journey – this is a promise to all people for all time which helps us to face the future with hope. “All shall be well, and all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well.”(Julian of Norwich c. 14th century)
Stephen O’Hara, Chaplain, Castlerea Community School.
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