Repairing The Breach

lockdowns in other countries or the selfish hoarding of those in our own. The movement to prevent indigenous deaths in custody, and the Black Lives Matter movement have shown how history still impacts today as the effects of previous oppression is still felt. Discussions about climate change and how the actions of high emitters affect those experiencing poverty, or sea-level rises threaten nations, all show that we can no longer stay silent and ignore the cost. When Jesus ministered to the Israelites, he physically brought sight to the blind, but he also healed emotional, spiritual and racial blindness - he brought to light the prejudices against the Samaritans, the way that religious law was being used to exclude vulnerable people, the difficulties of wealth and comfort in discipleship and the role of women in society. Between 2014 and 2020, our family lived in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Being outsiders in a place made each day a learning experience as we noticed how people treated us because of our perceived education, wealth and beauty. Injustices which seemed in the past, such as the secret bombing of Cambodia (by the USA in 1969-70), which became daily reality as we saw the effects of multi-generational trauma on individuals and society. The injustices surrounding the manufacturing of our shoes and clothing became more real as we shared meals with garment factory workers. The dominance of colonialism and globalisation became real as our expressions of faith were perceived to be about social advancement rather than creed. The hardest cost to me personally was the struggle I had to learn language and to speak to people in their heart language - hearing all the things that weren’t being said and being integrated into inside jokes and natural slang. Instead, I lost my ability to communicate deeply with people and the joy that being vulnerable together brings. Blindfold #2 - Carol Aust 75