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Viewpoint from Fr Tracy Williams 24/11/2023
 Rev Tracy Williams
Team Vicar, Great Yarmouth Team Ministry
All of us are deeply shocked by the loss of life we have seen over the last year or so, partly as a result of war in Ukraine, and as I write by the terrible casualties in Palestine. At this time of year we keep Remembrance Sunday, when, for the most part, we lament the dreadful loss of life in wars of the twentieth century
As we remember the fallen it is equally shocking to realise we have learnt so little indeed. The First World War, or the Great War as it was known at the time, was referred to as the war to end all wars. After the horror of coldly calculated and automated slaughter, no-one believed such atrocity could ever happen again. Yet, after a couple of decades, it did
 Now, yet again, innocent people are being killed, maimed, and bereaved, caught up in conflicts that most do not want
I am appalled that there is such scant appetite amongst our politicians - of all stripes - for peace, for ceasefire, for an end to violence. Those who choose to speak out appear to do so at their own peril. The inability to see that violence serves no useful purpose other than to sow seeds of bitter resentment leading to yet more hatred and violence seems to be a classic human flaw
Jesus called upon his disciples to forgive, to love God, and to love their neighbours. How right he was, and yet how seemingly impossible it is for people to follow such a simple commandment. It certainly didn’t apply to Jesus, scapegoated, tortured and brutally executed as he was
We really must learn to fix our inability to forgive and to be charitable towards others – and I most certainly include myself. When we can’t even use the roads with respect and consideration, what hope is there for an end to war? We all have a collective responsibility to break the spiral, and it starts small
I ask that we all try to remember this as we go about our daily routines. Let’s change the world together. As the catchphrase rightly says, ‘every little helps’ – how much better for saving humanity it would be if we applied that principle to the way we treat each other, rather than to saving pennies for ourselves. In the words of Edith Cavell, we ‘must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone’
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