All Terrain questions 18 and

For Ricky, though, and for thousands of children like him – brought up in the care system because they are unable to stay with their birth parents – change isn’t something they have to deal with every now and again. It’s their default experience of life.

Dr Krish Kandiah is a vocal advocate for Christians adopting and fostering, after he and his wife have done both. In episode 12 of The All Terrain Podcast he tells the story of a foster child who was so traumatised by the change in his family situation that, when he arrived to live with them, Krish could get no response from him at all.

One hour of playing the video game Fifa with his sons, however, brought about a radical shift: ‘He just looked more comfortable in his own skin... He changed from being so locked in, so uncertain, so worried, so traumatised to thinking: “I’m going to be OK here. I can trust these people. They’re safe. They’re for me.”’

While this moment didn’t heal the boy’s trauma, it did help him know that others would be with him as he faced change.

FACING CHANGE IN MATTHEW

Matthew wrote to Messianic Jews in the city of Great Antioch in AD70, who had fled Jerusalem after the destruction of the Temple and massacre of the Jewish priesthood by the Roman guard. They believed the Messiah had already come in the person of Jesus, says Alexander John Shaia in his book Heart and Mind, but ‘their challenge lay in trying to understand what the Messiah expected of them in the wake of the loss of the Temple, the priests and their accustomed rituals’.

Matthew’s Gospel helps people experiencing such loss of familiarity, tradition or security to wrestle with the question: How do we face change?

This theme can be seen in the story of Mary and Joseph. While Luke’s is the account that dominates the narrative of most Nativity plays, the second chapter of Matthew gives another perspective. In it, Joseph and Mary are already residents of Bethlehem, they are forced to flee and live as refugees in Egypt and, when they finally return to Israel, they settle in Nazareth.

When Jesus comes into the lives of Mary and Joseph, everything familiar is taken away, and together they must have the courage to face change. We too must do the same.

SEEING THE WORLD CHANGE

Selina Stone is a tutor and lecturer in political theology at St Mellitus College. In episode 18 of the podcast, she admits that change makes her feel very uncomfortable because it means that she’s not in control. Yet she has trained herself to believe that good things happen when she’s not in control.

Having worked to mobilise churches to engage politically and respond effectively to issues like youth violence, she recognises the irony that many of the changes she advocates will require her to sacrifice the comfort she craves. But her desire to follow Jesus means she is willing to face that discomfort.

‘A lot of Christians,’ she says, ‘are just not willing to admit they have more of a desire to be comfortable than to see the world change.’ Selina’s challenge prompts the question: If we resist change, prioritising our own comfort over addressing the pain and suffering that much of the world faces on a daily basis, are we truly disciples of Jesus or soldiers of The Salvation Army?

WHO’S COMING WITH YOU?

Guests on The All

Terrain Podcast are invited to pick three people – one living, one dead, one New episodes of The All Terrain Podcast are released on the last Friday of the month on Apple Podcasts, Podbean and Spotify. The second episode of season 3 is available now and features Lieut-Colonel Dean Pallant.

Sketch notes and group questions that support each episode can be downloaded from the podcast’s webpage at salvationarmy.org.uk/

youth-and-children

fictional – to accompany them on their hypothetical hike.

When life suddenly drops a bombshell, the discomfort we feel is eased for many of us by those who journey with us. Mary and Joseph had each other. So did Ricky and Hec. The people alongside us can encourage, inspire, energise and even challenge us, and we them, as we face change together. Those who are no longer with us, and even protagonists from great works of fiction, can help us figure out how to face change as we reflect on what they might have done in our situation.

Are we ready to face change, even when it goes against our natural urges for comfort and familiarity? Will we be disciples of Jesus who embrace change, even if we recognise that, in doing so, suffering may be just around the corner?

MATT WORSHIPS AT SUTTON AND WRITES THE ALL TERRAIN PODCAST SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS

Gift of light

Lieut-Colonel Ann Borrett focuses on the light that Jesus brings

ISAIAH 9:2–7

MY husband, Richard, and I recently acquired a new camera. It has enhanced our walks and adventures and comes with us wherever we go, just in case there is a photo opportunity. A whole new vocabulary has come with it. Not only do our walks take longer as the photo enthusiast stops to take numerous shots, but also our conversation has taken on a new focus. We now discuss such things as light conditions and the position of the object being photographed. Our walks are greatly enhanced, but the experience does not end during the walk. The pictures then need to be edited in order to bring out what the photographer saw in his mind or what he wants to portray from the lens.

During the next few weeks as we enter into Advent, lights will certainly become a feature. As the days are darker in the winter, there is a sense of joy as towns and homes are decorated with light. Our spirits are stirred. The changing light conditions and the variety of colours added to our streets and homes are also a photographer’s dream.

In our study passage from Isaiah, we see how light conditions changed for ‘the people walking in darkness’ (v2).

QUESTIONS

Read the study passage in a variety of Bible translations. What words are used to describe this light? In line with these descriptions, where have you seen light? Describe the setting.

We are given a description of what God has done for his people. God has ‘enlarged the nation and increased their joy’ (v3) and ‘shattered the yoke that burdens them’ (v4). These verses describe God’s provision – the people are released and we see hope in adversity.

The Passion Translation of verse 2 uses phrases that emphasise the before-and-after effect that this light brings: ‘Those who walked in darkness have seen a radiant light shining upon them. They once lived in the shadows of death, but now a glorious light has dawned!’

QUESTIONS

Can you recall stories of those who have experienced a real before-and-after transformation because of the light of Jesus? How has God’s light transformed your own life? For which changes do you particularly thank God?

Through the week with Salvationist

– a devotional thought for each day

by Major Sheila Smith

SUNDAY

A light came out of darkness;/ No light, no hope had we,/ Till Jesus came from Heaven/ Our light and hope to be./ Oh, as I read the story/ From birth to dying cry,/ A longing fills my bosom/ To meet him by and by. (SASB 528)

MONDAY

The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for coming into our world to bring us the light of your salvation. Help us every day to bring your light into our neighbourhoods and dispel the darkness. TUESDAY

Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God among us;/ Everlasting Father, Prince who rules in peace./ To us a child is born, to us a Son is giv’n./ To those who walked in darkness the light has come. (SASB 133)