It's been a week of farewells amongst my extended friends.
Tim's father slipped away at last yesterday, handing the baton to his son. At lunchtime today B's grandmother was picked up by Jesus, cradled in His arms and waltzed into heaven. I can only imagine what she must have felt as she heard the music of the angels after many years of limited hearing here. Precious Beth is waiting her turn too, lying unresponsive to earth with colon and lungs filled with cancer in a quiet room somewhere, with young children dreading having to say goodbye.
This cycle of life and death and of beginnings and endings is hard to comprehend. In an age of instant gratification and solutions, not being able to just fix "it" seems to be the unravelling of our can-do expectations.
May we learn to live looking to the light (we'll never be oblivious to the dark), listening for the music and learning that we are not our own solution. Perhaps then we will embrace this moment right now and extend our hearts towards each other.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done.
For Tim's dad, B's gran and for Beth - and their families and loved ones - may it be on earth as it is in heaven.
