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Viewpoint from Rev Albert Cadmore 13th January 2017
 Revd Albert Cadmore
also published in the Yarmouth Mercury
As he reported on the outcome of the United States Presidential election, Radio 4’s James Naughtie began his broadcast with the words, “We live in an age of transition”. He was quoting the words of Harold Macmillan, Prime Minister from 1957 to 1963, who once said, “It is, of course, a trite observation to say that we live ‘in a period of transition’”. Many people have said this at many times. Adam may well have made the remark to Eve on leaving the Garden of Eden
 Through the centuries there have been many times that could have been referred to as ‘periods of transition’ but, as we look back at the events of the past year, it is not just the outcome of the United States Presidential election that qualify 2016 as such a time. It was the year of Brexit, the year that saw the closure of ‘The Jungle’ in Calais and ongoing devastation and bloodshed in Syria and other war-torn parts of the world. For many individuals it was a year of transition brought about by changes in circumstances; some happy and some tragic or sad
In her Christmas message, the Queen made reference to some of the tragedies that we witness, both near and far, when she said, “On our own, we cannot end wars or wipe out injustice, but the cumulative impact of thousands of small acts of goodness can be bigger than we imagine”. She then singled out, for special praise, ordinary people like volunteers and carers doing extraordinary things, and she described how Mother Teresa summed up the contributions of such unsung heroes with the words, “Not all of us can do great things but we can do small things with great love”
Over the Christmas period I found myself reflecting on the Christmas story, and how, at that first Christmas, Mary and Joseph were homeless refugees seeking shelter, who went on to flee to Egypt because of the danger of persecution by Herod. There are clear echoes in their story of the plight of so many, from not too far away from Bethlehem, in the Syria of today. It is thought provoking that the horrors of Aleppo have been taking place a mere 400 miles from Bethlehem
We cannot know what awaits us in 2017, but with hope for the future, we can learn from the teaching and example of Jesus, and remember those words of the Queen, “On our own, we cannot end wars or wipe out injustice, but the cumulative impact of thousands of small acts of goodness can be bigger than we imagine”
There is surely a challenge for us all in such a message; may we each do our best to face up to that challenge
Happy New Year!
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