PAUSE FOR THOUGHT

Robert Draper, Church of Sacred Heart and St Aldhelm

Iam well aware that in the Abbey in Sherborne and in all the churches in the town and the surrounding villages there have been prayers offered for King Charles and his coronation. This coronation is a formal act whereby King Charles is acknowledged as the head of state in this country – and elsewhere. The very fact that perhaps many people will have reservations about this – even strong ones – requires us all to reflect on what this means for us.

I doubt if there has ever been a period when public figures have been so scrutinised by their fellow citizens. The public media has grown exponentially since the last coronation and social media has raised the level of communication of everyone’s – and anyone’s – opinions to an unimaginable height.

So what do we look for in our leaders and those who direct our laws? There is never a shortage of opinion of an individual’s mistakes and foibles, and sometimes of their qualities and successes – much of which is left as assertion and partisan – and most of which is difficult to judge. I suspect none of us has the time to sift through the vast amount of contradictory comment that assails us. But I do think we are beholden to consider what would count as the criteria to judge their stewardship. I suspect we want them to be people of integrity, people of compassion, people of justice, and I would also say, that they are wise.

In the Hebrew scriptures – what we often call the Old Testament – there is an important section of writings called the Wisdom Literature. It is worth thinking about what we mean by wisdom. We live in a society where education is highly praised. We live in a country where we greatly value experts in all fields – as the coronavirus pandemic revealed. But wisdom is not just about being clever and knowledgeable – it is very much a practical quality, something that comes from experience that has been reflected on. It is also something that, in the scriptures, is seen above all as a gift from God. When Solomon is made king after his father, David, he prays not for wealth or long life or victories, but for wisdom to guide his people.

In our culture accountability is regarded as important – those who hold significant roles, are held to be stewards and should be called to account for their stewardship. Their position is entrusted to them for the greater good and for the well-being of the whole of society.

In a democracy that accountability is partly expressed through elections and is seen in following customs and traditions. But in most cultures and for most ages, there is perceived to be a higher order – our idea of right and wrong for example is not simply decided by a vote. That is where the Hebrew idea of wisdom seems so helpful to me, especially the idea that it is a gift from God, and so for me then, I think praying for King Charles – and indeed all our leaders and public figures – is an important obligation on us all.