While the simple action of lighting a candle may not change the world, Father Greg Barker hopes it sends a message.
The Iraq war veteran and Boolaroo-based priest found himself searching for something to do to respond to the humanitarian crisis occurring in Afghanistan.
As Australia and the US withdrew their troops from the troubled country, the Taliban recently took control of Kabul following the hasty exit of president Ashraf Ghani, with chaotic and horrendous scenes emanating across the globe.
“It has made me feel a bit gutted,” he told the Newcastle Weekly.
“Some of the images that are being relayed back are horrific.
“The women and children and young girls in Afghanistan, their lives are going to be so different now and that is dreadful to me.
“I was also just feeling really sad for the veterans who worked in Afghanistan.
“There’s lots of posts on Facebook and other social media that I am in with fellas talking about how they feel a bit devastated by it.
“They feel that all that work they did, and it was good work with the right intent, has somehow fallen over.”
He adds that he wants them to know the sacrifices they made have not been wasted.
“Those veterans just need to be reminded that people are supporting them and that they’re work wasn’t wasted and that they are not forgotten in the midst of all this,” Father Barker said.
Having served with the Royal Australian Airforce for six years as a chaplain, he knows how difficult it could be for them.
“I was deployed across to Iraq where I spent six months working around the Middle East with the defence presence there,” he said.
“Going initially was confronting but, I don’t know how other military people might talk about it, it’s incredible how fast things normalise.
“So even when bombs are going off and you can hear gunfire and see gunfire in the frontline it becomes somehow normal.
“I know people remain defrayed and there’s lots and lots of confronting images that many people saw and a lot of people have been traumatised coming home since.
“But, there is a real sense that you just get on with it while you are there.
“My work was fairly intense and Afghanistan is a whole different field of operation.”
After reflecting on his own feelings about the situation, Father Barker thought it necessary to lead a response in his parish community.
At 6pm tonight (Thursday 19 August) and at the same time on the following two evenings, he will light a candle at the steps of the Boolaroo church.
Each night will acknowledge a different part of the crisis, including what lay ahead for Afghani women, a show of support for the veterans and a night for everyone in Afghanistan who finds themselves in dire circumstances.
He invites everyone to join in and light a candle from their homes.
“We can stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in other places,” he said.
“For Christian people and people of other faiths we know prayer has an impact but I also think it is a positive action and positivity does radiate, a bit like a ripple in a pond.
“We underestimate the simple things, the kind words, the smile, they have meaning.
“Sometimes we might feel like we can’t do [something] big but if we can find one little thing it can change everything.
“One positive action multiplied by 200 people doing the same has a huge impact.”
Get all the latest Newcastle news, sport, entertainment, lifestyle, competitions and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Newcastle Weekly Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.
For more community news:
