Christian Comment with Gareth Zimmerman, local preacher, Stroud Methodist Church

MY WIFE and I have just returned from a wonderful trip to Northern Cyprus and Turkey.

A special offer, a week of guided tours was followed by a week at a Turkish beach resort.

We went, despite our trepidation caused by the terrorist attacks in Ankara and Istanbul in the weeks preceding the trip.

Concern and apprehension sometimes precede a visit to a new destination.

With the wonderful experience of visiting historical sites and ruins, and modern towns and cities, we also learnt more about other people!

40-odd people thrown together on a coach for a week could lead to friction, but being seasoned travellers and having an outstanding guide, all got on well together.

Visiting the various sites, we were aware of historic conflict situations between nations and religions – particularly Christian and Muslim.

Clearly Turkey is an Islamic country, but with secular laws.

Lacking pork products, alcoholic drinks were however available, and we saw no burkas or niqabs – only headscarves.

Visiting several mosques, we were asked to remove footwear and the ladies to wear scarves, provided by the mosque.

Quotations from the Quran all referred to peace and love – very close to Christian principles.

We felt welcome, whatever faith we were, as our party included a Sikh, several Christians and others of other faiths or none.

As a Christian, I felt this added to my understanding of Islam and reinforced my knowledge of Muslims as kind, friendly people.

In the light of the current terrorist climate, how desperately tragic it is that adherents of a faith can so easily turn it towards hatred of our fellow men – the Christian faith has suffered from this, which has turned people away from the Church, as we all know.

A further reflection came about in the resort, where most guests had the all-inclusive package.

The food was varied, delicious and well presented – and plentiful!

Regrettably some – even those from poor countries – still piled their plates up, either to add to their already copious bodies, or to leave most to be thrown away.

This greed and wastage detracted from the otherwise wonderful resort experience.