fire

So this is our eleventh night, when traditionally bonfires light up the skies over this place I call home. When organised and lawful they can point back to times past and reflect an old cultural tradition. When disorganised, they can threaten homes and communities.
Today we have seen the best and worst of people. Petrol bombs, hijacking, suspect packages, shots fired, police attacked and that rightly informs news. But we are together better than those mavericks that try to see that their way alone is acceptable. A shared future must be based on mutual respect. Much that took place today was normal and included many gracious acts which do not make news. Nonetheless we need to keep on being dedicated peacebuilders, gracious, for it is solely on such often un-newsworthy values is our shared future secured and can true light be shone on the dark recesses of our prejudices.