THERE is a sense of unease in our land right now, a sense of things not right, of things not what they should be.

On the face of it, this is strange: after all, life expectancy in the UK has increased dramatically and decent quality of life after the biblical three score years and 10 has increased for many.

Comparatively few of us have had to go and fight in wars in recent times. Rapid advances in technology mean that thanks to the wonders of Skype, grandparents can see the little ones who live on the other side of the world, and chat to them on a regular basis. No wonder this technology feels like one of the miracles of our time.

Nevertheless, the sense of disquiet persists, and we need to pay attention to it. It’s a bit like our bodies: we may suddenly get intimations that all is not well with us; unease may sometimes mask disease, and the actions we take may save not just our wellbeing, but our very lives.

I am generalising, and probably exaggerating, of course – columnists are wont to do this kind of thing. There is, mercifully, not enough space here to develop an analysis of the malaise I am adverting to; let me therefore restrict myself to highlighting one or two disturbing trends.

The gap between rich and poor in Britain continues to grow apace. Wealthy and powerful people still run the show and make all the rules. A burgeoning managerial class somehow manages to reward itself even for abject failure. There is a lack of political will to make real change - this is a recipe for social unrest.

And that’s without throwing in Brexit and Trump, and the post-fact, smoke-andmirrors cultural environment we inhabit. Chesterton got it right:

O God of earth and altar Bow down and hear our cry; our earthly rulers falter, our people drift and die. The walls of gold entomb us, the swords of scorn divide; Take not thy thunder from us, but take away our pride.

Let’s get more personal. The rise in the numbers of young people suffering from depression is truly alarming. The modern technological cornucopia which promises so much also creates a perfect platform for bullies and abusers.

Social media also supports a vacuous celebrity culture with its accompanying body fascism. Suicide is the number one cause of death among young men in Scotland. Loneliness among elderly people is becoming a major social problem.

“Lent invites us to examine our lives in the light of gospel imperatives, and to walk with the bloodied Christ to the redemptive Cross.

Christians should not be surprised by this. The brilliant Garden of Eden narrative in Genesis contains more truth about human nature than thousands of jargon-filled bureaucratic reports. We humans are a flawed species. We worship counterfeit gods. We stand in need of redemption.

Lent is a season for reflection on these themes. It invites us to examine our lives in the light of gospel imperatives, and to walk with the bloodied Christ to the redemptive Cross. It also offers us resources for the journey of faith in these troubled times, in which churches must learn what it means to be communities of resistance.

From all that terror teaches from lies of tongue or pen, from all the easy speeches that comfort cruel men, from sale and profanation of honour and the sword, from sleep and from damnation, deliver us, good Lord.