This week, with the Rev Christopher Armstrong, Dean of Blackburn

RACIAL differences were few in Scarborough.

Moving to Blackburn required for me a huge adjustment in attitude.

Suddenly the world is a smaller place, the differences of race and faith more acute. How should we approach these differences? Are they a problem or an opportunity?

We all react differently to such a challenge.

The people of Blackburn have responded positively. It is a severe test of patience and generosity between races and faiths.

Suddenly, faith or lifestyle is on trial.

For a Christian, that test is particularly acute for, in the language of the New Testament, the word for 'stranger' also means 'guest' as in the Letter to the Hebrews, ch.13, verse 2. (Do not forget to entertain strangers).

Thus, when the appalling events of September 11 hit our TV screens, it was bound to test that trust.

Is this a problem or an opportunity? In Blackburn we have taken this as an opportunity to develop further trust between the faith communities by working together for the benefit of those who have been victims of terrorism, especially for the suffering children of Afghanistan.

Our Christian faith encourages us to help those in need, whatever their faith, status or race.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan both encourages us and illustrates this.

And as I visit the Koran, I find that Muslims too are encouraged to give alms for those in trouble (9.60). Indeed it is one of the five pillars of Islam.

Here lie profound truths, for what we do to others we do to God and also to ourselves.

All of us crave for love, for value. We can just attend to our own well-being, but that will bring isolation and death.

The way to joy, and life in all its fullness, is to tend to the needs of others.