Peace

  I have had a lovely weekend - a sun-filled, happy time of beach, family time, friends, good food, baby showers........ and all of the time the tragedy of what happened in Norway has been on my heart and mind.

We have friends in Norway and Jack posted this note on his FB today

Thanks you for all your greetings...churches were open right across the land of Norway for people to pray and find comfort- Thousands and thousands went into these churches for the first time. There were many tears during the Sunday services including mine. Not just churches but impromptu gatherings in town squares across the land...flowers, candles songs and prayers were the norm. To see the King and queen of Norway- weeping so openly and hugging folk was very touching when many VIP's are so used to displaying the stiff upper lip. Also our town was hit by incredible heavy rain last night and roads and buildings have been devastated. including roads on our farm. It seems even the earth is groaning after the events of this weekend. There is a long way to go in rebuilding not just roads but more importantly lives, hope and joy of Norway... so please  continue to pray for this small peace loving nation.

Another friend Audrey posted this today....

Norwegian PM, Jens Stoltenberg, 24/07/11: 'Today it is time for sorrow. We shall allow ourselves to stop, and honour the dead. Mourn for those who are no more... I'm proud to live in a country that has managed to stand together in the face of tragedy... We're a little country but a proud people. We are shaken but we will not give up our values. Our response is more freedom, more democracy but not naivety.'

 Norwegian PM quoted one of the Utoeya victims in today's service:
”Om én mann kan vise så mye hat, tenk hvor mye kjærlighet vi alle kan vise sammen.”/"If one man can show so much hate, just think how much love we all can show together."

 There is SO much that could be said........ and so much that is not understandable ........ my heart is heavy for those families mourning and those people feeling bewildered and confused.

Peace........ we need it, all of us, the whole world.......