大象传媒

Last November, my wife and I spent a couple of nights in the seaside town of Hunstanton, in Norfolk. We stayed at a lovely old hotel with high sash windows and thick stone walls. With the challenges of Covid and having heard some difficult family news, it was good to get some respite.

Located on a peninsular, the November wind ripped forcefully through Hunstanton one afternoon鈥攃hurning up the sea, sending hats flying, making the flags of the war memorial snap violently. By that evening gusts were pounding our hotel like angry fists on a door. And yet we were at peace. Those stone walls were so strong, the foundations so solid. While nature鈥檚 war raged outside, our room was a refuge.

Like many, I鈥檝e watched speechless this week as events in Afghanistan have unfolded. Taliban flag raised over Kabul, desperate crowds chasing planes down runways. Better minds than mine can assign blame; all I鈥檝e been able to do is recall that moment in Hunstanton and turn it into a prayer鈥攁 prayer for refuge:聽

Refuge for those left on that airport tarmac, fearful of life ahead, and for Afghani soldiers and others fearing reprisal. Refuge for the women and girls fearing a loss of education, employment and innocence; for Afghanistan鈥檚 Christians who are already being targeted, and for veterans wondering if the lives and limbs lost these last twenty years were worth it.

Refuge is an important theme in scripture. God himself is described as a refuge for the vulnerable, and for many people I鈥檝e met who鈥檝e faced terror, worship has been their prime source of resilience. But scripture also talks of refuge as something聽we聽provide, whether through safe cities those fearing reprisal can flee to, or communities offering hospitality to refugees. As heaven and earth join forces, the vulnerable find safety鈥攕o I鈥檓 praying for governments, councils, churches and aid聽organisations聽too.

The storm in Hunstanton had passed by the following morning鈥攕oft breeze, calm sea, warm sun making the seagulls glow. It鈥檚 an image I鈥檓 holding for the people of Afghanistan: refuge today and a brighter tomorrow.聽