Today, 15th January 2025, I began considering a particularly tricky ill-treatment case, which came to my attention before Christmas but which required steady research and reflection before putting pen to paper. As I’ve read and researched, I have been struck by the similarities between the life of the detainee in question and my life. If I’d been born in their country, this could well have been my fate. A sobering thought.

Whenever I have to read about ill-treatment, I play Christian music in the background: it’s my way of trying to limit the vicarious trauma that can come from such reading, and it helps me to stay motivated when the work is particularly unpleasant. Anyway today YouTube happened to throw up a song I haven’t heard in a while, by socially consciensed singer songwriter (and former doctor) Andy Flannagan. And the lyrics hit me struck me afresh:

Bring heaven to earth, Lord Bring peace where there’s fear Bring life where there’s death, Lord Bring joy in these tears… Bring hope where there’s pain… You invite us to partner with you To see your kingdom come
We are blessed, to bless a world in pieces We are loved, to love where love is not We are changed, to be the change you promised We are freed, to be your hands, O God
…Bring keys to the chained… And touch to the shamed… In the broken, we shall see restored The image of our King… Bring closer your kingdom By quiet success
We are Blessed, Andy Flannagan

Amen. It is indeed a blessing - and an privilege - to be able to bring healthcare and other assistance to just a small fraction of our world’s 11,000,000+ detainees, especially those who have been tortured or otherwise severely ill-treated.