7 mins
The art of reconciliation
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SINCE May these bible refl ections have been exploring approaches to reconciliation. If there’s one theme that I hope has emerged, it is that reconciliation is less about perfecting a technique and more about practising a presence.
John Paul Lederach, author of Reconcile: confl ict transformation for ordinary Christians is a mediator and a Mennonite. He points us to this pattern of presence over technique in the life of Jesus. Almost at every turn, whether in conversation with law makers or law breakers, disciples or despots, Jesus’ focus is on the quality of the relationship rather than on the perfection of a technique.
Lederach focusses on Jesus’ response to questions of law to illustrate his point. In Matthew chapter 22 Jesus is put to the test a number of times by the Pharisees and the Saducees who were afraid of the power of Jesus’ following (Matthew 21:45). Their use of false praise (22:16) and convoluted questions (22:17; 22:23-28; 22:36) was designed to provoke and to ‘entrap’ (22:15).
Jesus’ response is consistently focussed on justice and right relationships. When asked about taxes, he turns the focus on just sharing; when asked about marriage law in the event of death he focusses on the
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living. Finally they ask: ‘which commandment in the law is the greatest?’ Jesus’ answer displays what Lederach calls the ‘three Reconciliation Arts:’ “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the greatest and fi rst commandment. And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” (Matthew 22: 37-39) These three ‘reconciliation arts’, following a slightly diff erent order than above, are: First, notice the mutual humanity that you see in the other (as Jacob did with Esau in Genesis 10). In reaching out, practise the art of being prepared to be changed by the encounter. From whom in your community or congregation do you hold diff ering views? Do you have diff erent views on Brexit or Independence, on parking charges or anti-poverty policy? Reach out specifi cally to these ones, noticing the humanity within them and being willing to be changed by what you see and hear.
The second ‘reconciliation art’ is the art of self-refl ection or self-care. In the Iona Community we strive to live, through our Rule of Life, a balance between contemplation and action. This is not always easy, particularly in a culture that values output over input, or actions over refl ection. But if we are to love our neighbour as we love ourselves, fi rst we must practise the art of self-love. Distinct from selfi shness, self-love is an inner knowing that draws us closer to knowing God and seeing God in the other.
The third ‘reconciliation art’ according to Lederach is to practise the art of companionship. We are called to accompany others in and through committed friendship. In these acts of radical friendship where we may fi nd both comfort and discomfort, in this costly companionship we are expressing the love of God. To be a ‘companion’ is to ‘break bread’ with the other, to share deeply and intimately with the other even in their suff ering – for this is the path that God chose. As we companion one another, even into the broken, hurting places, it is there where we are fulfi lling the greatest of the commandments: “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Ruth Harvey is a Church of Scotland minister and Leader of the Iona Community.
REVIEWS
ABOVE AND BEYOND The illustrated story of Mission Aviation Fellowship Published by: Mission Aviation Fellowship Price: £25
Mission Aviation Fellowship is a charity that is no stranger to the Church of Scotland, as a former partner project of the Church of Scotland Guild and a regular visitor to the annual Heart and Soul celebration (generally delighting crowds with a mission plane fl own on mercy missions in some far fl ung corner of the globe).
This year, to mark the 75th anniversary of ‘the world’s largest humanitarian airline’ it has published a beautiful hardback book to provide a permanent reminder of its humble beginnings to full-fl edged charity, embracing both humanitarian support and faith.
The roots of the organisation were fi rst sowed by a young American woman, Betty Green, who had served with the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) in the Second World War and helped form the Christian Airmen’s Missionary Fellowship in the USA.
At the end of the Second World War, a group of committed pilots had recognised their skills could be deployed in helping those in need in the most remote part of the world and the idea of the Mission Aviation Fellowship was born when a handful of RAF veterans, including the late Stuart King (to whom the book is dedicated) opened the charity’s London offi ce.
In 1946, the Christian Airmen’s Fellowship bought its fi rst aircraft, a 1933 Waco Cabin biplane and later than same year Betty Greene became the fi rst female MAF pilto to fl y across the Andes in a Grumman Duck aircraft. A short time later, CAMF changed its name to MAF and the fi rst mission surveys by Green over Mexico, Ecuador and Peru were undertaken.
During the post-war years, MAF expanded its reach across the globe, acquiring aircraft that could help support mercy missions and provide aid where it was most needed.
The book traces the fascinating journey across the globe, drawing on the memories of the many surviving pilots and their achievements in working with both aid and faith-based agencies to help those most in need in some of the most inaccessible parts of the globe during crisis after crisis and disaster after disaster.
The book is peppered with helpful timelines through each section showing the milestone moments for the charity in terms of both support and work – and the range of its involvements in almost every natural disaster is breathtaking in scale.
The 250-plus page hardback is beautifully illustrated and will be of equal interest to people of faith, social historians and those with an interest or fascination for aircraft. The innovation brought by the purchase of a new aircraft – and its technical ability to enhance the charity’s work, is cleverly captured along with the very personal memories of those who blazed the trail of MAF in humanitarian eff ort after humanitarian eff ort across the globe, with the charity fl ying to work wherever it was needed most. The volume also provides profi les on not just the people who have served with the charity, but the countries themselves with colourful photographs sometimes illustrating the scale of the challenge facing the highly-skilled MAF team.
Today MAF is committed to serve the world’s most isolated communities with limited access to education, roads and healthcare and operates in more than 25 countries across the developing world and is proud to say it fl ies to more destinations than any other commercial airline.
Pictured in the cockpit of a MAF plane, the Archbishop of Canterbury pays tribute to the charity in a warm foreword in which he writes: ‘Mission Aviation Fellowship is an inspiring and exceptional organisation at the very heart of God’s rescue plan for our broken world. Having fl own numerous times on board MAF’s trusted and unique aircraft, I have witnessed fi rst-hand how God is using this remarkable charity to bring life and hope to some of the most hard-to-reach people on earth.’ This book not only provides a comprehensive history of MAF’s work across the globe, but off ers a fascinating insight to its incalculable contribution to helping as many people as possible at times of crisis.
FOR CHILDREN LAUGH AND GROW BIBLE FOR KIDS Written by: Phil Vischer Published by: Hodder & Stoughton Price: £14.99 Aimed at children aged from four to eight, this hardback, book aims to take kids through the Gospel in 52 fi ve-minute bible stories.
Ranging from Genesis to Revelation, it traces the key stories from the bible off ering helpful pointers on talking points for each story and prayer. As the author is American, some terminology has been retained, eg ‘mom’ when referring to ‘mum’ but the book would be a helpful resource for those looking for faith based activity and support for work with the smallest people or it could equally be used as a family activity to learn more about the bible.
This article appears in the February 2021 Issue of Life and Work
If you would like to view other issues of Life and Work, you can see the full archive
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