FEATURES Resisting the Rush by Padre Andy McMullon D
ecember always seems like a headlong rush into Christmas. However long I try to put it off with a feigned
show of grumpiness typical of men my age, Christmas comes looming onto the horizon bringing the usual rush of social events and the growing sense of guilt and panic over the need to buy at least some Christmas presents for the people who matter most (and a few others) as well as planning those extra services in the Station Chapel at RAF Waddington.
I always try to resist this rush into manic activity by trying to enjoy Advent, the four weeks before Christmas, as a season of its own. Advent is meant to be a time of thoughtful reflection before the celebration of the coming of Jesus at Christmas – and with our busy, even frenetic, lives, this is needed more than ever.
The last year has been yet another of challenge for the RAF community: recovery from economic recession has been sporadic and personal and
family budgets continue to be stretched as real incomes fall; it’s also been a difficult and costly year on OP Herrick helping bring security to the peoples of Afghanistan with increased loss of coalition lives in so-called ‘green on blue’ attacks; furthermore, despite the demands of Out of Area Ops, routine business at home and extra commitment, even if delivered with a smile, to the Olympics, we’ve seen many friends and colleagues head for the exit, through voluntary or forced redundancy. Looking ahead we may fear more of the same, especially if the situation in the Middle East worsens, increases the risk of further conflict and acts as another dampener on world economic recovery.
With all these challenges, both personally and to the RAF community, it’s natural to want to move on, perhaps all too quickly, to some much needed partying and celebration, trying to leave the difficulties behind at least for a short while. Yet Advent is not meant merely to be a passive time of reflective inactivity. It is a time to sift, reassess and reprioritise our own lives in preparation for a time of meeting with God in
the joy and celebration of the Christmas season. In the Bible the cry went out to ‘Prepare the Way of the Lord’, a cry both to individuals and to the state to reaffirm its commitment to God and to his demand that we live righteous lives and seek Justice for all. Even now it is not put any better than the question asked and answered by the prophet Micah:
“What does the LORD require of you? To do Justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with God!”
We may not be able to put the world to rights but we can start with ourselves and our own lives.
If we can begin to get that right during Advent we’ll soon have real cause to celebrate Christmas without grumpiness or guilt!
Health The
Insurance Group
U.K. & International Healthcare Specialists
BUPA DENTAL
DENTAL INSURANCE YOU CAN SMILE ABOUT
Bupa has teamed up with The Health Insurance Group and the Forces Pension Society to offer serving and retired members of the forces and their families dental insurance at special rates.
For further information call your Bupa Helpline on: 0800 237 777† (option 2) or visit
healthinsurancegroup.co.uk/forces
Bupa. Helping You Find Healthy
†Calls may be recorded and may be monitored. *Price is based on Bupa’s Core level of cover. The rate is available until 01/07/2013. Bupa Dental insurance is subject to terms and conditions including exclusions and restrictions. Membership guide available upon request. If you purchase on-line or on the telephone Bupa Dental Services is arranged by Bupa Insurance Services Limited. Registered in England and Wales No 3829851. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. In all other circumstances Bupa Dental Insurance is arranged by The Health Insurance Group. The Health Insurance Group is a trading name for Independent Sales Force Solutions Limited. The Independent Sales Force Solutions Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority FRN 308189. Bupa Dental Insurance is provided by Bupa Insurance Limited. Registered in England and Wales No. 3956433, authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Registered office of Bupa Insurance Limited and Bupa Insurance Services Limited: Bupa House, 15-19 Bloomsbury way, London WC1A 2BA.
18
Envoy Winter 2012
www.raf-ff.org.uk
PREMIUMS PERMONTH
FROM
£8
*
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56