Bleak Outlook?

Nikon D70s, f9, 1/320 sec, -0.33 EV, ISO 200, 46mm equivalent (click to enlarge)

The news at the moment just seems so grim. The murders in Northern Ireland threatening to reignite cross-community tensions, the terrible attack on two young couples last night in Drogheda, ten shot dead in a school in Germany, another ten in Alabama. This goes alongside daily news of appalling bombings and shootings in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan that occur with such frequency that we find ourselves suffering from "compassion fatigue".

Then of course we have the ‘mini budget’ to look forward to on April 7th. I don’t think that there’s going to be anything ‘mini’ about it at all – Raking €5 Billion (or whatever the ridiculous amount is), off the tax payers seems more like a ‘colossal budget’ to me.

Sad too is the treatment of the Cork County Hurling manager, Gerald McCarthy, having to resign his position because of death threats. At least the Champions league results brought some cheer for Liverpool and Chelsea Supporters.

What brings the most cheer for me though is knowing that despite all the bad news, despite all the tragedy and horror we have a God who understands what it is like to suffer, to die, to be rejected and hated and through all of that showed that love, sacrificial love, is the most powerful and potent and precious thing in all the world...

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” (Revelation 21:3,4 NLT)