Beyond the Palin

  Have you been watching the latest travel programme on TV: 'Michael Palin's New Europe'?

  It is a fascinating series in which the famous TV traveller, of 'Round the World in 80 Days' and 'Pole to Pole' fame, visits many of the European countries which have emerged from communist rule over the last 15 years.

  I have been interested in the series because, this year, I too have visited three of these emerging countries - Hungary, Slovenia and Albania - and have been fascinated by them and their rapid development.

  In the first programme, Palin explains that the purpose of his trip is to find out about his neighbours of whom he has little knowledge and understanding - even though we and they live on the same continent and many of them are now our partners in the European Union.

  On the face of it, we share a great deal with the people of these countries.  Most of us were once part of the Roman Empire; all of us were involved in two terrible world wars.  But, on the whole, Palin is right.  We know relatively little about each other - each other's languages, histories and cultures, all of which are varied.

  With the internet and low cost airlines, more and more opportunities are available to help us put this right.  Equally, with the growing numbers of workers coming from Europe, our neighbours are coming to call on us and are not waiting for us to call on them!

  Jesus tells us to love our neighbours but how can we love our neighbour, as Jesus commands us, if we don’t take the time and effort to get to know them?

  We must understand each other if we are going to befriend or support one another.

  This is true not only when relating to neighbours from other countries.  It is equally true about our relationships with those who live near us and even those who sit near us in church!  A neighbour is a stranger until something is shared between us.

  Jesus turned strangers around him into neighbours.  He took time to be with them; to speak and eat with them; to understand them.  He showed them that the things that made them different from one another are overcome by the love which is from God.  He shared meals and stories with them.  He helped them out.

  November is the month of memories.  Remembrance Sunday reminds us of the cost to human life when we live in a world in which we are surrounded by people we see as strangers, not as neighbours.

  Jesus tells us to welcome the stranger and love our neighbour.  For God's sake and the world's sake, let us do just that.

by Graham Clarke.