Nat Wei took on a challenge that was probably doomed to failure – to head the Big Society initiative of Prime Minister David Cameron aimed to reduce the role of the State and get local volunteers to provide more services and “to take power away from politicians and give it to the people.”  The Prime Minister in introducing it said it was “about changing the way our country is run.  No more of a government treating everyone like children…let’s treat adults like adults and give them responsibility over their lives.”  As well it was intended to make government date more accessible and to support social enterprises co-ops and innovations in providing community services. The funds to operate were to come from “dormant accounts” in major UK banks – almost $330 million dollars as well as other investors.  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1390519/David-Camerons-Big-Society-Tsar-Lord-Wei-quits-just-days-relaunch.html

Unfortunately it came at the same time as major cutbacks in government funding and subsequent tax increases.  It was seen by some powerful influencers as simply a way for government  to avoid their responsibilities at the cost of the citizen.  In fact the initiative was short-lived – lasting only seven months and Nat resigned from the post in February of this year. 

However the setback did not affect his infectious humility optimism enthusiasm for innovation and gracious hospitality when he hosted us for dinner.  His commitment to social entrepreneurship at a great financial sacrifice to himself and his family was remarkable.  He’s not slowing down his involvement and introduced us to a host of charities doing good work in the UK.  As well his honesty about the danger of our “losing our institutional memory and the rise of the benevolent global elite” was reinforced later in France when one of our hosts reminded us one of the major exports of Europe is secularism and the growth of a global elite that would eventually produce a messiah who would replace our liberties without a fight from people so anxious to end the economic and political struggles. 

As he spoke I thought about Eugene Peterson’s words in “Run With The Horses” as he describes the remnant of Israelites tired of conflict and hardship going back to Egypt after the conquest of Jerusalem. “It was easier to go to Egypt.  So they went to Egypt.  In Egypt there were no uncertainties no loose ends no ambiguity.  Every detail in this life and the next was accounted for in Egypt.”  

Lord Wei may be a prophet as well as a peer.