Today has been declared a National Day of Mourning here in Australia. 209 people are known to have lost their lives in the bush fires of Black Saturday, with more bodies yet to be located. More than 1500 homes were burned to the ground. Thousands of animals were also killed. The landscape will take years to recover.

Amidst the crisis tales of great courage and heroism have emerged. There have been miracles of survival, and at the height of the blaze a baby was born - joy amongst dispair. His family survived with just the clothes on their backs, but their lives were spared.

When things like this happen we forget our differences and remember our common humanity. So spare a prayer for those affected by this terrible disaster, and let us all reflect on the fact that even our "enemies" are just people, with families, homes, and emotions just like our own, for only then will we have peace in our time.