Well we live in strange times indeed!
I live with someone who studied History and is a keen and knowledgeable historian (yes, I do mean Mick!) So we have been having some interesting conversations over the past week.
It seems to me that history is to be learned from and not eradicated. I believe that God created us to evolve as human beings and we have done so, physically and mentally, and more importantly, morally and spiritually. What was once acceptable in the past is no longer.
However, if we just attempt to airbrush out of our history those things that make us ashamed and that we find difficult to face then history will just go on repeating itself, for we won't have learned anything.
In my younger days I may well have been one of those gleefully pulling down Mr Colston's statue in Bristol and throwing him into the brink. Good fun perhaps. However, perhaps some of the energy and zeal of those young people should be directed not towards trying to erase signs of our shameful past, but making our present more just. They might start by campaigning against slavery now. Slavery is still with us, just in a different form and it is much more hidden.
Let us look at the sins of some of our predecessors straight in the face, learn from them and strive to do better. We do need them as a reminder of what humans are capable of and to spur us on into a better future.
Blessings
Ann
Rev'd Ann Kember
Rector of St Mary's Chard, St Nicholas Combe, St Mary's Wambrook and St Andrew's, Whitestaunton
01460 351521
07490 236179
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