Walk in the light.

Dear friends,

In the days when he was just a simple “Parish Development Advisor” in the Oxford Diocese, Stephen Cotterell, (now Archbishop of York) came to speak to a Henley Clergy Quiet Day.   Advent was underway, and he took as his theme the “four last things” – of heaven, hell, death and judgement. I still remember the nub of his “death” session, which was that, as well as our “birth” day, we each also have a “death” day – a date known only to God, and kept from us. It was a salutary reminder that the whole span  our person is held and known by God, and a prompt to us to keep each moment, each second, as a precious gift from God. Our lives are finite, and our lives need not be overshadowed by the lack of knowledge of our end, rather our faith should be encouraged. As God held and knew us before conception, and in the womb, so too his promise in Christ is to hold us for all eternity, beyond those “times” that we are granted here on earth.

It is one of the privileges of the clerical calling to be with people who are dying. While there are similarities in physiological process (so that medical professionals know the signs) nevertheless, every death is unique, bespoke if you will. Some endings are tragic, sudden, or violent. Others are gradual, gentle (as St Francis called it) and calm. Some deaths are expected, others come with shock. Some endings are accepted and welcomed (“Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace”) while others provoke frustration and bitterness (“Rage, rage, against the dying of the light.”). It is one of the lessons of death, of others, and certainly our own, that it is never convenient. And, that, afterwards, the truth will be revealed, from God if you have faith, and by our executors – whatever you believe.

Whilst an argument for assisted dying can be made on the basis that we’re accustomed to possible medical intervention (assistance) at our birth, so why not at our death as well, this does not hold, for two reasons. Firstly that it is generally expected that the medical profession is there to assist in a “lifewards” direction, and secondly that, to “cut short our days” is to insult the Giver of both life and time. In the Scriptures, rightly numbering ones own days is a mark of wisdom, (Ps 90:12) but this is held in tension with the impossibility of this knowledge for humanity (Eccl 3:11). I can illustrate this best with a personal account; as a curate I visited a lady who was in the local cottage hospital. She was dying of terminal cancer and in great pain. She was a member of the congregation, faithful, popular and godly. She said to me “I wondered why it was that God wanted me here, because it does hurt. I hoped I’d go quickly, but I see its not going to happen. I asked God about it, and it became clear to me that he had things for me to do, even while I am dying. And the good thing about it is that I don’t have to move, because everyone comes to me.” This I saw to be the case. She was a beacon of light and hope on the ward. She had an endless stream of visitors. The nurses found her cheerfulness and resilience an inspiration. She lived every moment that God had given her, right until her last one.

This, together with the Archbishop (who at the time he spoke to us, certainly had no idea of what the future held for him), taught me one other thing, which is that one should take every single day as a gift from God, and make sure that, today, you live like you’re truly alive. Walk in the light. Trust God a little more. Tomorrow has its own story. (Matt 6:34).

Worship Services for Advent Sunday 1st December

9.30am Family Service at St John’s, Stoke Row with Mr Peter Ferguson

11am Morning Prayer at St Peter and Paul, Checkendon with Canon Kevin Davies.

Midweek zoom service: Wednesday Evensong at 5.00pm  410 935 129

And the bigger picture

In a happily good example of leadership the C/E has assembled a large number of national faith leaders who have together issued a public letter of opposition to the assisted dying bill. It makes different arguments to the theological one above and I hope that you also find it helpful.

In your prayers this week, please remember all those caring for dependents or the vulnerable, whether at home or in hospital, whether in a personal or professional capacity. “Watch dear Lord, with those who cannot sleep and those who weep this night. Tend the sick, give rest to the weary and bless the dying, relieve those who suffer, have pity on those in great distress and keep those who are happy, for your love’s sake.”            (St Augustine of Hippo)

Your Rector   Canon Kevin.

PS For those of you who like a musical “thought” this excellent track from the Police sums up things very well. A great song, played brilliantly. And when you think they’ve finished…let those who have ears, let them hear.