Letter from Clare

A new phrase seems to be creeping unto sundry areas of life, the phrase being " risk assessment ". It is a sign of our age when things are seen to be escalating out of control that those in positions of authority try to bring things under control, hence " risk assessment " don't undertake any activity without first ensuring that it is as risk free as it can be. There is nothing wrong with this, we've being doing it since time began, but as in everything there has to be a balance.

The Christian gospel stands as a contradiction to the philosophy of risk assessment for the very act of creation, was an act of risk, and the whole human story portrayed in the Bible is one of how things have gone astray and how God has sought to turn them round, taking one risk after another all to no avail until he finally sends his son. Jesus is Lord, he is the face of God turned towards us in history. All his life is Gods act. He is God, God in flesh, God made known in history, God fearing, struggling and suffering He is God unprotected; no walls, he is free for all humanity; in him God is free for all humanity.

At Easter we celebrate the God who knows the risk of being at one with his creation and who in Jesus has gone beyond the one great adventure that none of us can escape, the journey of death, so that we can travel that same road with him, risk free.

A very Happy Easter to you all!