Are your children happy?

Children should be happy. One of the Bible predictions about the future is that, when Jesus reigns, “the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets” (Zech 8.5). 

One test of a nation’s moral character is its treatment of the innocent, the weak, and the vulnerable. If such members of society live in fear of abuse, mistreatment, or death, it seems obvious to all right-thinking people that there is a moral deficiency in the nation. 

Children should live free from such fears. They will one day. They certainly do not now. 

Children are not safe in the streets. They are not safe in the schools. They are not safe (often) in their own homes. Sadly they are not even safe in the womb of their mother. How cold, callous, and celebrative of wickedness must a nation be to rejoice in the slaughter of infants? Is this how society improves? Should we slaughter the innocent for the sins of the guilty? 

All things bright and beautiful

Last weekend, I spent the weekend in the beautiful country of Northern Ireland. For me, it is a bit like coming home. I love it. My mother was born and raised (raised, they would say) in Belfast. Some of my ancestors were from County Monaghan and others from Fermanagh. My wife is from Ballymena, County Antrim, so there are lots of family roots in this wonderful land.

Weather-wise, it was a great weekend. A slight drizzle (that is obligatory), but 98% of the time, the sun shone, and with what brilliance! We all know what a difference a little bit of sunshine makes! The landscape literally shines and glows in the glory of sunlight. The townlands and coastal scenery come alive (as does everyone who is out and about enjoying the majesty and splendour of God’s incredible creation) as you try to take in the greens of the fields, trees and shrubs (this is Ireland, after all) the shades of sea blue and the whole pallet of restful colours that vie for your attention. Words cannot fully express beauty. Many talented artists have attempted to reflect what they see, songwriters have written lyrics to express what they feel, and poets have created soulful words describing how they feel, as have many writers. Still, there is something inexpressible about beauty and the glory of the created order. On a very simple level (as long as you attribute the source as God) the Bible calls it worship, Psalm 8. As a Christian believer, I know that there are other deeper aspects to worship. Still, at a very elementary level, a ‘wow response’ comes from our appreciation of beauty and the awesomeness of what we see, hear and feel that demands deep reflection and admission that there is more to this than meets the eye (literally). Who gave us this ability to enjoy, value, be satisfied and delight in good music, amazing food, and beautiful words. Who gave us the capacity to appreciate art and to revel in talent. This is unique to humans. There is no evidence that any other creature has this sense of awe, this deep appreciation, the ability to be stunned and to stand back and be wowed by glorious majesty.

Harry Ferguson Tractors

All photos courtesy of Unsplash 

Often innovators and visionaries are derided and mocked in their lifetime and it can take years before people see them in a different and more positive light. There is a commemorative stone on the promenade in the town of Newcastle in County Down, Northern Ireland dedicated to the memory of a creative and determined character by the name of Harry Ferguson. The name ‘Ferguson’ is for many agricultural workers and farmers associated with tractors and Harry Ferguson was the inventor of the “Little Grey Fergie” tractor.  Yet the engraved stone on the sea front at Newcastle says nothing about his tractors.

It was in 1909 that Harry Ferguson became the first person in Ireland to fly a plane.  It had never been done in that country before and he was to achieve fame for paving the way for others.  In Belfast he had spent time designing a monoplane and then devoted his energy and creative ability to building the plane and making sure that all parts worked.  Eventually when it was all assembled to his satisfaction it was towed to the estate of Lord Downshire in Hillsborough Park during December 1909.