When reading novels, my mother-in-law has a strange practice: she turns to the back page first for a quick skim, before getting stuck into the story from the start.
When reading novels, my mother-in-law has a strange practice: she turns to the back page first for a quick skim, before getting stuck into the story from the start. We mock her, but sometimes there are merits to knowing where a story ends, aren’t there?
Some things would be smoother sailing if we knew exactly where our major life decisions would take us. If we knew a romantic relationship would bring heartache, would we let it start? If we knew we were going to fail a particular course of study, would we choose something easier? If we knew a job would end in retrenchment, would we bother to apply?
But life cannot be lived in hindsight. And plenty of things that happen are not things we even choose—they are things that happen to us. And so we must respond as wisely as we can, and see where our respective stories take us in the light of that.
In this edition we introduce you to Australian Nesan Kistan, who at the age of 22 lost his father in the mass killing at Tasmania’s Port Arthur. From the shock and disbelief of such an unexpected death, Nesan has charted a course to live a life that honours God.
And, in our Soul Food segment this week, Salvation Army officer Major Glenys Fairhurst bravely reflects on the death of her husband along with the sorrow of other bereavements. In doing so, Glenys will perhaps help steady the ship for others by offering her own testimony that it is possible to stay afloat even through the storms of life.
In Romans chapter five we read that ‘suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame …’. Character and hope are not easily formed; they often come out of the crucible of the toughest of human experiences. If we could see the end and sidestep the difficult challenges along the way then life might be easier, but in a strange paradox it would also be poorer, because we’d no longer have the experience to support others with understanding and compassion.
Christina Tyson
Editor
Hosea 12:6 The Message
‘What are you waiting for? Return to your God! Commit yourself in love, in justice! Wait for your God, and don’t give up on him—ever!’
Hōhea 12:6
‘Nā reira tahuri koe ki tōu Atua: puritia te mahi tohu me te tika, tatari tonu ki tōu Atua.’