Too Late- Look, See, Pray

Unusually for me, I felt a strong compulsion to go to Climping Beach today. So I packed my lunch and my camera, and made the most of the sunshine. Recent storms and rise in sea levels have made quite an impact. What I saw made me start thinking- and praying.

Sea defences here (mostly of wood) have been destroyed. The Environment Agency have responded by shipping in tons of shingle, building high and thick barriers to blunt the force of the sea. They describe this as a “temporary” solution: eventually it will be too expensive to defend the land here, and the sea will claim sovereignty and flood the ground.

Massive blocks of stone and concrete have been dropped along the beach as breakwaters: these will take the brunt of wave-energy impact, and so take down the destructive power of the waves. But this beach is doomed: the proposed defence is a delaying action only.

Then in a gully between two shingle banks I found this lovely piece of masonry. Bricks and mortar still hold the mass together, but the foundations are lost. The bricks are now no more than a small part of the breakwater system. Once part of a wall; now the plaything of tide and bulldozers. There was an air of sad defiance- “we may be broken and lost, but we’re staying together!” Sound familiar?

The main Southern Coastal Path now staggers over broken walls and is much more difficult to traverse- especially at peak tides. How did it reach this state of affairs?

There have been arguments and complaints about the sea defences for years! They needed replacing, repairing, renewing… but it is too late.

I don’t think it too unreasonable to compare the state of Western democracy and society to this broken “strong place.” We have allowed our foundations to be eroded, and that which was strong is collapsing. Half of the people are refusing to face reality; and half the rest are cheering the downfall of the old ways. Where does that leave the rest? Is it really too late?

However, rather than despair, I choose to hold faith with God’s promises and His Sovereignty. So I invite you to meditate on these words from Isaiah:

Isaiah 61:4

Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins,
They will raise up the former devastations;
And they will repair the ruined cities,
The desolations of many generations.

Then, remember the words of Jesus:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16 v33)