“Turning and turning in the widening gyre, The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world” (Yeats: The Second Coming)

Words written nearly a century ago, but they could easily have been penned yesterday. W. B. Yeats composed them in the aftermath of WW1, evoking Christian imagery to describe the atmosphere of post-war Europe, especially his beloved Ireland at a time when the British government was preparing to send in the Black and Tans.

I was reminded of Yeats’s famous lines while listening to BBC news pouring out its regular torrent of woe and catastrophe. There was ‘Brexit for example, with all its possible implications, including the potential break-up of the United Kingdom. And, of course, there was mention of the rise of populism with all the dangers associated with that (shades of the 1930s here perhaps). And of course, much was made of the growing tragedy in Africa with millions facing starvation. There are times when it’s very easy to admit that the world is in utter turmoil.

But then there’s nothing new in this. That’s pretty obvious to anyone with the scantest knowledge of history. And it’s abundantly clear to anyone who knows anything about the Hebrew Bible too. Take the familiar words Psalm 46 for example.

“God is our refuge and strength,

always ready to help in times of trouble.

So we will not fear when earthquakes come

and the mountains crumble into the sea”

This Psalm was clearly written against a background of danger and deliverance. In fact, many modern scholars think it refers to the time when the Assyrian king Sennacherib surrounded the city of Jerusalem with all the horror and despair associated with a brutal siege.

The Psalmist knew that there are times when our worlds can come crashing down, and even the most secure institutions can prove incredibly fragile. So what do we do then? Well, our unknown writer says, I want you to know that I have discovered that at such times we can put our trust in God.

In fact, if he could, I think he would want us to learn a lesson from what are commonly known as ‘four eyed fishes’. Let me explain. These peculiar little creatures have eyes raised above the top of the head and divided in two different parts, enabling them to see below and above the surface at the same time!

I came across ‘Four Eyes’ a few years ago when searching for something interesting to talk about in a school assembly, and I have found myself thinking about these intriguing little creatures ever since. Their ability to see above and below water at the same time reminds me of a profound spiritual insight: we have to live in the real world with all its difficulties, challenges and even its dangers, but that is not the whole truth. History is not out of control and we need not be alone for there is a God in heaven, and He is eager to help us when everything seems to be falling apart.

Rob James is a Baptist Pastor broadcaster and writer who currently operates as a church and media consultant for the Evangelical Alliance Wales. He is available for preaching and teaching throughout Wales and can be contacted at [email protected]