G.D. Leslie's News from Abroad

News from Abroad, by George Dunlop Leslie, R.A. (undated), appears to show an old woman straining to read a letter, while a younger one looks on. The latter is attractive and prettily dressed, but may have been struck dumb by ill news; the older woman looks ancient, and dresses in an older style and requires thick lenses in front of her eyes. Is the younger's expression one of heart-break, resignation, or is she plain uninterested? The older one makes great effort to read the letter, while the other appears not to care. Then again, she holds a cameo portrait: might this be of a fiancé who has changed his mind about their future lives together? Or is he dead, killed fighting the French or Russians? The archaic meaning of the word ‘abroad’ means ‘from away’ rather than foreign or overseas.

In modern Britain, church-going and general, religious observance is associated with older people. The young seem not to care, even though they, too, shall give account to the Great God regarding their records. The gospel is news from abroad- from the Middle east, from the past, from a different world: yet it is as relevant and attention-worthy as something that happened five seconds ago before our very eyes. Only a fool would fail to grasp a lifebelt when he was drowning at sea, and only a fool would fail to pay attention to the gospel of Jesus Christ ahead of his trial before the Judge.

Seek ye the Lord while he may be found: call ye upon him while he is near. Isaiah 55:6, Geneva Bible