Kidnapped: The Alan Johnston Story

I remember that one of the first posts that I ever made as a blogger was aimed at raising awareness of the plight of the then captured BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston. Alan Johnston was held captive for 114 days by Palestinian militants in Gaza. Last week he published, for the first time, a full account of his experiences. You can read a full copy of his harrowing story on the BBC website. However, I'd like to also point your attention to some of the questions that were directed to Alan by concerned viewers and friends. This one struck me as an amazing question:

Q: Did you seek God at any point during your ordeal?
Tara, Oxford

As moving as anything in this whole affair was the number of people of all faiths who supported me. So many have said that I was in their prayers. I am truly grateful for their compassion, and who knows quite what influence it may have had on my fate.

We live surrounded by mystery, and so much that is unknowable. But when people show concern for the suffering of a stranger, then I think that they are acting in the best spirit of all the great religions.

As for me, I was not praying before I was captured, and I did not feel that it would be right to start just because I was in trouble.

I think that in a situation like that, you have to hope that you have treated other people decently, and tried to live a good life, before disaster struck. And if you have, perhaps a God of mercy and love will come to your aid.

But in my work I have seen a great deal of suffering endured by entirely innocent people. And to be honest, I am afraid that it has left me struggling to believe that God does closely manage our individual lives.

First of all we really have to thank God that Alan was released unharmed after such a long period in captivity. I think that the answer to the question is really interesting in a couple of ways. What is the point in prayer? Is treating people decently good enough to earn salvation? Does God care for the suffering? Over the next couple of fridays, i'll be dealing with some of these issues raised in the piece. If you're really keen to know more about some of these issues before I start, try this handy website.

Blygt.