It's been 'a week of high drama', as they say, and we had a demonstration of how much being in power means to some people, scarily so, some might think.  When we all witnessed the events at the start of 2021 as the outgoing USA president decided that he wasn't ready to be voted out, who would have guessed that the UK would have a similar experience?

It's a reminder of how much the mere thought of having power over others can take over a person, to the point where it becomes all-consuming.  It appears that the person concerned becomes convinced that they are totally right, totally indispensible and have a right to rule that others cannot remove.

When we look across to other countries and scoff at what appear to be dictators or at least elected leaders who have little fear of being removed from power, we might remind ourselves that the two English-speaking major powers, both of whom fought against Nazi tyranny just a few generations ago, have now both come close to their own forms of such tyranny.

In the end, it does not seem to matter what rules or laws are in place or what conventions exist; if someone wants power enough and won't let go, they can perhaps achieve their wish.  As the old saying goes, 'All that it takes for evil to triumph is for good men (and women) to stand idle.'

The interesting point for a Christian observer in the UK of last week's events was the remark made by the first cabinet minister to resign over the corruption and behaviour coming from Downing Street.

Not many people may realise that every morning at Westminster begins with prayer.  The House of Commons has a chaplain and a short service takes place to allow MPs to gather and pray for guidance before they start work.  It's a hangover from long ago when every MP would have been a Christian and morning prayer would be taken for granted.

In this case, the cabinet minister concerned was troubled by events that were affecting his conscience; there had been further evidence of dubious, poor behaviour, evasion and lies coming from 10 Downing Street and it was worrying the minister.  He stepped into morning prayer that day and listened to a short sermon on integrity in public life.  Remember, this is an experienced politician who listens to strident or calm opinions and statements every day of his life and is able to analyse and discount those that he does not see as worthy.  This time, he listened to the chaplain's sermon and had a damascene moment, one that was destined to change the UK government.  He realised that what he had been tolerating from the Prime Minister was in fact unacceptable; the moment had come when the only way to stop evil from triumphing was for him to make a stand.

So that minister went from morning prayer to his office, wrote a letter of resignation, told the Prime Minister he was going and why and the following day, clearly still emotional, made a statement in the House of Commons to stand against what he saw as being evil and wrong.

Whatever one might think of the people concerned, whatever their or your political beliefs, it is difficult not to be stunned by this effect of listening to a sermon in a place of worship.  Sometimes, we open ourselves to God and something happens, something tremendous, something that may change everything for us or, in this case, for everyone else as well.  That minister, that day, opened up and the Holy Spirit entered, whether he thought of it that way or not.  His troubles were examined and he was put right.  That is the power of prayer, the power of the Holy Spirit and the hope for us all.  Amen.