Hi folks I trust you are all doing ok, well i’m finally surfacing after a wonderful and weird few weeks! Back from an incredible holiday in Rhodes, we were very refreshed and ready to celebrate 25 years of married life, we had two fantastic parties with people we love and care for massively. We then both came down with Covid, alongside a few others from our party, including my mum, which we were worried about, but she is made of strong stuff that one! It feels like a long time ago since I spent time writing a blog. So here we go.
This week we will be meeting at Platform 2 in Tynemouth and it would be great to see you if you are able to come along.
Before we get into this, just to say that today’s blog comes with a trigger warning.
Just before we went away on holiday we found out about the news that my former minister, friend and colleague, Rev Leo Osborn, and also one of our former members of BFX, Jamie had died. Both deaths were a shock and unexpected. And as I write, we have just heard that one of the folks that came along to Mariners and Marras has died, Des was a great shanti singer and involved in many projects up in Blyth with the tall ship up there.
So this week I want to think about death, well kind of!
A few weeks back an article on Facebook caught my eye, it started out with this phrase…
Have you ever thought about this? In 100 years like in 2123 we will all be buried with our relatives and friends.
The basic premise of the article was that all the things we hold on to now, our houses, possessions will either be in landfill or owned by some else.
We may have a distant relative in the future that will build a family tree and we will find a photo of ourselves stuck in a book or uploaded to a computer somewhere. Or may find ourselves on a wall or a mantel piece of a relative that actually knows nothing of the lives we lead.
As I write, I’m wondering about the house we live in, built in the late 20’s early 30’s and I’m wondering about the lives of those who walked around it, I wonder what they were called? And the kind of lives they led.
In some ways it sounds all depressing, but it’s also fascinating!
I think back to some of the significant people in my life, who are no longer with us, I think about one of Karen’s best friends, Natasha, who was a bridesmaid for us, I think about Colin, the life and soul of any party! I think about Mike at the fisherman Mission, a man of strong faithfulness to God. And I think about my dad. Some of these are now part of my online calendar so I don’t forget when they died, so at least once a year I get a reminder that they were loved and were part of my life, I find it comforting as I remember them, and of course there is sadness, but that’s ok.
And now I have Leo, Jamie and Des to add to this list… Who is on your list?
But my main point is to ponder and to get us wondering about the investment we make in ‘things’, when so much, if not all, has no longevity to it.
In thinking about all this I came across these short verses from Ecclesiastes.
Ecclesiastes 12:6-7 The Message
Life, lovely while it lasts, is soon over. Life as we know it, precious and beautiful, ends. The body is put back in the same ground it came from. The spirit returns to God, who first breathed it.
Some questions
If this isn’t too hard, can you tell us about someone who has died who meant a lot to you?
How do you feel about death?
What would happen if we paused for a moment and pondered on the reality that much of our story will be forgotten?
How could this change the way we live now?
In what ways could it affect what we hold on to and what we perceive as being important?
How can we help each other to treat every moment as precious and special?
How does your spirituality help you to deal with death?
Peace, Rob
Image by Ken Haines from Pixabay
Rob Wylie is the founder of BeachcomberFX and guides its leadership team. He has worked in the North East for over 20 years and has vast experience from various roles he has held. He has a passion for Fresh Expressions of Church and Pioneer Ministry as well as beer, beaches and Miniature Schnauzers.