This little light of mine
On July 11, 2018, the nation was poised on the edge of its seat as we dared to believe for just a moment that football was coming home. It wasn't. But what was interesting hearing the commentators following the match where England were knocked out of the World Cup.
They said, ‘Yes we lost, but today was a win for English football. The tide has turned and people believe in the game again.’
They also said that it brought people together, and was sure to enthuse a whole generation of future footballers, who would in their time, bring football back home.
Imperfect people in an uncertain world
Edmund Burke, the famous politician, philosopher and father of modern conservatism, quite rightly said that: 'Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.'
Burke insightfully recognised that the problem with the human condition is that we live not by the motto for which he's known; rather, we all too often say ''I only do what I have certainty of succeeding at' - in short, we find ourselves living by the notion that we only try when we know we will succeed.
Burke wrote against such a notion; he knew that whilst human history has been shaped by many acts of greatness, they are less frequently acts of winners, but rather of imperfect people in an uncertain world daring to believe there might be a better way.
Becoming agents of change
Our role at Christian Aid is to support you, Christian business leaders, across the UK and beyond. Supporting, encouraging and equipping you to be agents of positive change within your organisations and throughout your spheres of influence. Why?
Because Christian Aid has seen both the impact poor and unjust business practises have upon some of the world's poorest people and communities, as well as experienced the transformative and prophetic power business can have, here and abroad, when its leaders and operations are resourced to thrive based upon holistic and faith values - and not simply the generation of financial value alone.
Poor corporate practice has the ability to catastrophically affect communities and whole countries, whether it is failing to pay tax in the countries in which wealth is created, or unequal employment policies; or it might be turning a blind eye to the painful reality of modern-day slavery.
Proactively positive practices, however, have the ability to set the foundations of health and prosperity for those same communities.
Many members of the Salt Network are not large multinational corporations, although some are. Rather, most are small operations but are unified by the belief that there might be a better way to run organisations, make money and secure a livelihood that honours life, equality and justice for all.
Light of the world
Jesus said: 'You are the light of the world... let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.' Matthew 5: 14-16
The world is full of injustice, brokenness and pain. 72 million children go without primary education; 63 million people are displaced; 780 million lack improved water sources; half the world lack access to essential health services.
But the world is also full of joy, healing and dignity; it's full of imperfect people willing to stand as flames of hope amidst the dark, believing that there might be a better way.
Jesus said that you are the light of the world. Whatever your reason for being part of the Salt Network, you have given time to read this and more than likely engage with some of the other content of the Network.
Whatever you believe, the very fact that you have spent your valuable time reading this suggests to me that you may believe in the notion of a more fair and just world. To my mind that might just make you light to the world.
Overcoming the dark
When the world can appear dark, hard and unfair; when our businesses and our leadership feels under pressure and inadequate; when the bank balance and our energy to ‘go beyond’ is low...
...Hold fast to the fact that 'Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little', because even the smallest of lights overcome the dark.