THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - 4th July 2007

The Rt Rev James Jones, Bishop of Liverpool

Alan Johnston’s release this morning brings him into that unique company of people – hostages like Terry Waite, John McCarthy and Brian Keenan – who survived their ordeal and captivity. Vigils have been held around the world and those who’ve offered prayers will be overjoyed at his freedom – not least his mother and father who have shown such dignity as they’ve led the campaign for his release with winsome grace. Of course, the fact that he’s been set free will at the same time bring to mind poignantly those others for whom we prayed and kept vigil, like Ken Bigley from here in Liverpool, who were never reunited with their loves ones here on earth.

Alan Johnston will have a remarkable story to tell – he’s already begun sharing it – and we will hang on his every word as even blindfolded he stared death in the face.

Brian Keenan gave a harrowing account of his own captivity in his book ‘An Evil Cradling’ when he talked about how isolated in his cell he had time to examine his own inner self and how he found himself actually introducing different aspects of his personality to each other. It became for him a journey of inner discovery and I should imagine in time Alan Johnston might offer us a similar testimony.

There in a cell, darkened by fear, extraordinary discoveries are made in the most unlikely places. In Keenan’s case it was the reconnecting of different aspects of his character. His testimony is a parable of what needs to happen in the Middle East, in the world – a reconnecting of different and fragmented stories, a coming together, a reconciliation of different aspirations, of conflicting fears. Alan Johnston has talked about drawing on resources he didn’t know he had and having to go on just day by day.

There’ll be many who though not in physical captivity today will have to learn to live like that and his release is a source of hope – and certainly thanksgiving.