According to Save the Children, this morning nearly two million children are waking up far away from their homes, having fled war and terror in Syria. They now live in shanty-towns, refugee camps or makeshift accommodation elsewhere in Syria or in surrounding countries.
Karim is one of these two million children. He is nine years old and now lives in Lebanon. There's a sparkle in his eye as I talk with him about football. He wants to play for Real Madrid and score goals like Ronaldo. He doesn't know the names of any Liverpool players, despite the fact he's wearing some second-hand tracksuit bottoms sporting the logo for Liverpool Football Club and the poignant words "You'll never walk alone." Karim's family do feel very alone. They are fast running out of savings, as strictly it is illegal for Syrians to work in Lebanon and yet they need to pay rent. They would like to return to their home in Syria, but it no longer exists.
God calls his followers to share his special concern for the needy. The Bible says: "Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.<sup>"
If only it was that simple for our politicians and community leaders! Mass population movement always brings with it complex and unpredictable change to any host community and we can all begin to suffer from 'compassion fatigue'. Let us remember today to pray for everyone involved in trying to help the children caught up in this crisis.
Lord Jesus,
Once you welcomed children, that others thought a nuisance.
You said your kingdom belongs to such as these.
Give wisdom and compassion to all our leaders across Europe as they respond to this unprecedented refugee crisis.
Amen.
This is an adapted version of Krish Kandiah's Prayer for the Day, which he will be giving every day on Radio 4 this week. You can listen to the original broadcast here.
