So I supported the Remain campaign. I love Europe, and I truly believe that our world needs a United States of Europe to provide a counterbalance to the emerging ruthless power of China, as well as the power of the United States. I love borderless travel in Europe, and as a British citizen, I appreciated the fact that UK’s membership of the EU contributed to this little island’s becoming the second largest economy in the EU (and, well, contributed trickle-down prosperity to its residents).
I went to sleep certain that good sense would prevail and slept in. On waking, I reached, groggily for my phone, and read The Guardian headlines in shock. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said this was “a sad day for Europe.” What? The Prime Minister David Cameron had resigned. Brexit, incredibly, had won 52 to 48.
Stocks plunged. Brexit wiped 2 trillion dollars off the global stock market. The pound plummeted against the dollar to a 31 year low, losing almost 10% of its value. Britain is on the verge of a recession.
More disturbing was J. K. Rowling’s statement that “racists and bigots are flocking to the ‘Leave’ cause, and, in some instances, directing it.” She goes on to say that it would be dishonourable and shameful to assume that everyone who voted to leave was a bigot and racist, and, for my own peace, equanimity and happiness, I am not going to assume that.
When Irene walked into my room saying “This is so sad; have you seen it Mum?” I was embarrassed about the tears streaming down my face. I was numb with a leaden sadness. I have always felt a great affection for England, to which my father had immigrated for eight colourful, exciting years, stories of which I had grown up on. England was the background of the books I read as a child; the novels and poetry I read as a teenager; the literature I studied deeply as an undergraduate as Oxford. If this was a racist vote, then I guess I felt the pangs of unrequited love!!
* * *
One of my guiding principles, or defining decisions, however, is “I will choose to be happy.” I will not be unhappy in this beautiful world, whose skies are a ever-changing panoply of dramatic colour, whose trees showily change each season, whose beauty is never spent, and which has a dearest freshness deep down things, for God puts it there.
I have no reason to be unhappy, when I walk hand in hand with my Father on one side, and my friend Jesus on the other. When at any time, on request, the Spirit can pour, pour, pour his wine, his champagne into me.
I have no reason to be unhappy when this is my Father’s world, and he can turn anything to good.
I will have peace, because I am rather good friends with the God of the deep peace of the running wave, the still waters, and the everlasting hills, the peace he pours into my heart.
I will praise God even for this, for God can turn everything to good.
I believe that nothing in this world is so dark that God cannot vein it with silver and gold. Precious stones, after all, are made from compressed mud and muck and the bones of dead creatures.
* * *
So what are the silver linings, in this doom and gloom? I asked my husband. He laughed. He had been looking at our accounts. After twenty years in academia, we decided to become entrepreneurs, and have owned a small company for the last nine years, exporting our products, mainly to the United States and Europe. As he quickly wired over money, we realised that, just like that, the weak pound meant that our monthly income had increased by 10%. There are many entrepreneurs and exporters in the UK.
House prices have begun to fall, which is, oddly, good news, for we are hoping to move from our beloved ancient house in the country, with a beautiful 1.5 acre garden, ponds, a detached writing cottage, a large sunny conservatory, an orchard, a vegetable garden, and old stone walls with roses tumbling over them to more expensive North Oxford, closer to our church, friends, the university, art galleries, museums, the theatre, yoga classes and the historic walks and college gardens. Lower house prices are always a boon to half the population, the half that buys houses!
And though, no doubt, my retirement portfolio, like everyone else’s, is down by thousands and thousands, you know what? I am not going to look. I don’t plan to retire in this decade, or in the next, and the one sure thing I know about money is that it comes, and it goes. Stocks rise and stocks fall and they rise again. Riches can take wing and fly away like an eagle if the Lord chooses, and when the Lord wills it, they can fly to you in exactly the same way!!
I thought of that beautiful poem of Teresa of Avila’s that I found when I was 18, and often say to myself,
Let nothing disturb thee,
Nothing affright thee
All things are passing;
God never changeth;
And I thought too of the words of Jesus which, again, I often say to myself, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.”
So, so, so, perhaps an unscrupulous, opportunistic politician who stabbed his friends in the back, and engineered this horror with wilful lies to gain fame and power will get to be Prime Minister (may it never be so, Lord!!). Perhaps there will be economic loss, recession, and varied horribleness—yet will I trust in the Lord. I remembered again that our family business really took off in 2008 and 2009 during the Great Recession when, having lower overheads, we could price our products competitively. God’s twisty-bendy goodness will never fail to astonish!!
* * *
Though I am sad about Brexit, perhaps it is not an unmitigated disaster. The Hobbits of this Shire have their distinctive culture; their national character is different from the Elves, Men, and Dwarves, the Eagles, Wizards, Bears, Goblins, and Wild Wolves of the Continent. I realise this afresh each time I fly from England to Europe. Perhaps it was just a matter of time before Brexit happened. And perhaps Brexit might even have some benefits. Racially homogenous societies are more peaceful and orderly, I see when I travelled in Scandinavia, or Switzerland or the Greek islands—(though they lack the creativity in the arts, sciences, scholarship and cookery that characterises wonderful melting pot cultures).
Nothing is all dark; pretty much everything has a silver lining. Everything can be shaped for good in this world that God made, and God loves, and in which God’s busy hands work, moulding, shaping things for good, though we muck them up, muck them up, muck them. This world always sprawls before us like a field of dreams, so various, so beautiful, so new,
Because the Holy Spirit over this bent
World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings.
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Anita, may I tell you ~
within every body of work you present,
I delight in the pulse of your poet heart
my response is of respect and affection ~
[behold, and pray]
Nothing is all dark;
this world always sprawls before us
like a field of dreams,
so various,
so beautiful,
so new
God made,
God loves,
Shaping things for good
Amen
christine
Christine, may I tell you, I love the way you read my writing, picking up rhythms I put there almost unconsciously.
(I started out as a poet, and if God wills, hope to return to writing poetry. My small step in that direction at present : reading a few poems every day!)
Peace, calmness, love . . . . . all these things get us through.
Yes! All shall–eventually–be well!
Interesting times! I heard Dr Patrick Dixon, futurist and Christian, speak at an event on 20 June. When asked about the approaching referendum he said that the complexity of the issues and lack of clarity on working out how to vote showed it probably didn’t matter. This is in stark contrast to most people who said it was of utmost and life changing importance.
Having prayed earnestly about it, I voted Leave. Isn’t it amazing how God’s people find His will together. How about the disciples drawing lots for a new member after Jesus’ resurrection! I didn’t want to fret about the future of my/our investments/economy but I believe “righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34) so our future is in Gods hands and how we live rather than putting our trust in ‘princes’ and material wealth.
Proverbs 25:17 says don’t visit your neighbors too often, or you will wear out your welcome. I wonder if that applies to our European neighbours. Can we get on well with them without having to merge our ‘households’?
An ‘old Chinese proverb’ warns that prediction is very difficult, especially of the future. The biblical principles haven’t changed and they light the way ahead, however we voted. I want to work with those perspectives differ from my own. Without them my own view will always be limited.
“It probably didn’t matter.” I think this will be true in the long run. In the short run, of course, Brexit has been a blow to the economy, and will be a expense (weaker pound) and, in two years, a hassle to travellers (visas to visit Europe!). If Britain gives the EU more than she receives, which appears to be the case, then perhaps she will thrive after Brexit. If not, not.
However, just as we are not to fret about our personal finances, there is no sense is fretting about national finances over which we have even less control. And so I am going to go back to gardening!
“For our commonwealth has its existence in the heavens, from which also we await the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour”, Philippians 3: 20. That’s where our country is!
Our eternal home, yes. But while we are on earth, we live in cities and countries, and are to seek their prosperity. “Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” (Jer 29:7). Having said that though, it’s important to remain peaceful whatever our individual fortunes, or the fortunes of our country (and that is just as well!! 🙂
But it is ours now! “For we have not here an abiding city, but we seek the coming one”, Hebrews 13: 14.
I listened extensively to all the discussions and arguments, debates and information on radio and television. I watched documentaries on the gravy train and waste in Brussels of the executives of the EU, and the transporting of the whole cabinet between two different countries for meetings. I saw how our NHS was creaking at the seams and the housing was so short, and I prayed that no matter how I voted, which was to leave, that God would ensure that His will was done in the matter. I thought remain would probably win, and decided that if that was what God had decided, that was fine with me. When I woke to hear with surprise that the vote was to leave, I was pleased and optimistic that God was doing something new and exciting in the UK.
At this moment all is confusion, the money markets are chaotic, no-one in government seems to have a plan, and Scotland is threatening to either challenge the referendum or leave the UK. Still I am not afraid, because I believe that God is in this, sort of like the boat in the storm on the lake, when the disciples are terrified, and Jesus calms the storm. I just pray He will send someone sensible to lead us through these turbulent times to calmer waters. Thanks so much for your thoughts from the other side of the vote. Let us all pray for calm and unity.
Gail, thank you for your kind and reasoned argument.
“Still I am not afraid, because I believe that God is in this, sort of like the boat in the storm on the lake, when the disciples are terrified, and Jesus calms the storm.” Me too, me too!
Thanks, Anita, for the reminder of hope. We need to be reminded. These are sad times, though I think you meant “I have no reason to be UNhappy when this is my Father’s world…” – with which I do concur.
Falling house prices are not such good news for the many young people, such as two of our children, who have just bought their first homes and now face the possibility of negative equity. It’s all right for us older generation who have paid off most or all of our mortgages.
Michael, thanks for pointing out the typo–and the worst kind too, which changed the meaning of the sentence!
Thanks for pointing that out re house prices. Hadn’t considered negative equity!
It’s hard to locate and reside in the place of peace, isn’t it, amid such turbulence!
What a lot of drama! The votes are in, and the people have spoken. Although I live in faraway Australia, my ancestry is both British and European. I have followed Brexit with interest, and am sure the time is ripe for England to remove itself from the clutches of the EU. After all, nobody in the EU took a whole heap of notice of England’s vote, and you can only benefit from being set free from the stranglehold of Brussels. As for fake petitions for a second referendum – they are beneath contempt and only indicate sore losers. Be glad of both the subtle and more obvious benefits of independence. One day in the not-so-distant future, this will undoubtedly become apparent, even to the deepest cynics. What you loses on the one hand you more than gain on the other. Be grateful that God is protecting you now and in the future.
Thanks, Ann. “What you lose on the one hand, you more than gain on the other.” That is generally true in life, and I hope will be true in this instance!