Page 8 - Good News September 2017 paper

Continued from p. 5
Continued from p. 5 verged to allow the successful leaders. Imagine an entire nation, millions
nine days, this capricious and evacuation of 338 000 soldiers of people, simultaneously
often-dangerous sea passage and the survival of Britain. "In the cities and towns, leaders beseeching God for deliverance.
went, to borrow a phrase from of civic life attended church on What a scene that would be! Now
Britain's English Heritage web- Imagine the intellectual and this Day of National Prayer at the imagine if Christopher Nolan not
site, "unusually calm." The Daily emotional experience that the head of their people," the Times only depicted this National Day
Telegraph wrote on July 8, 1940, creativity and resources of wrote. "From peaceful village of Prayer, but also connected it
"Those who are accustomed to Christopher Nolan could have churches in the remote country- with the miracles that began to
the Channel testify to the created, if he only valued the side the same prayers were unfold on the Channel and in the
strangeness of this calm; they history enough to communicate it offered, just as in these fateful port of Dunkirk.
are deeply impressed by the honestly. Imagine if Nolan studied hours the same thoughts are in
phenomenon of nature by which the history of Dunkirk for the people's minds." Afterward, the Think about it: What if Christo-
it became possible for tiny craft lessons it actually furnishes, and archbishop of Canterbury called pher Nolan had reflected his-
to go back and forth in safety." If not the lessons he wants it to on everyone to pause at noon torical reality and actually made
that isn't fodder for an epic furnish. It's true; Dunkirk is a every day and pray for delive- GOD the central Figure of the
scene, what is? dramatic story about bravery and rance. Dunkirk Miracle?
sacrifice and having hope even
Finally, as the English Channel when circumstances seem hope-
turned "millpond flat," the skies less. But far more than that,
above Flanders erupted. For Dunkirk is about the miraculous
more than a day, torrential rain convergence of three extremely
and low-hanging clouds groun- unlikely events, and the GOD Who
ded the German Air Force. orchestrated that convergence!

"I have talked to officers and men But why would God intervene like
who have gotten safely back to this? There are a few answers,
England, and all of them tell of one of which can again be found
these two phenomena," con- in the historical record. England's
tinued the Daily Telegraph article. king responded to the dire
situation by calling for a Day of www.anglican.ink
"The first was the great storm National Prayer on May 26.
which broke over Flanders on Across the nation, British citi- In desperation King George VI called for a National Day of
Tuesday, May 28, and the other zens, the Church of England, the Prayer to be held on 26 May 1940. In a national broadcast he
was the great calm which settled Catholic Church, Jews and other instructed the people of the UK to turn back to God in a spirit of
on the English Channel during religions appealed to God for repentance and plead for Divine help. Millions of people
the days following." help. The King and Queen across the British Isles flocked into churches praying for
attended a service at Westminster deliverance and this photograph shows the extraordinary
Imagine it: Between May 24 and Abbey, along with Queen Wilhel- scene outside Westminster Abbey as people queued for
June 4, not one, but three mina of the Netherlands, and the prayer.
extremely unlikely events con- prime minister and other British

f you really know God as want." The child's eyes filled
your loving heavenly with tears as she clung more
IFather, you will consider tightly to his hand. "What's the
companionship with Him your matter, Honey?" he asked. "I
greatest treasure. don't want the money, Daddy,"
she said. "I want YOU!"
I've heard of a father who had
to be away from home for Do you feel the same about
about seven months. On his God? Do you want HIM, or only
return he took his family to a His blessings? Are you seek-
shopping centre. Handing ing His Face (Presence) or His
some money to his little girl, Hand (gifts)?
he said, "Lydia, take this
money and buy anything you - Selected