A life in ministry is many faceted. It deals in the building of relationships, presence in community events and the sharing of meals, issues surrounding inclusion and equality, confronting social, economic and environmental justice, reaching out in compassion and caring, and issues surrounding life and death, joy and sorrow; in other words, being present in times of both darkness and light. But, most importantly, ministry is the commitment to share the good news of the Gospel and walking in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, to the best of one’s ability.
Too often, though, the passing of loved ones takes centre stage. This past week has been just such a time. It seems, as we age as a congregation, death, the “inevitable”, takes up more and more of our thoughts.
I have long lost count of the number of life celebrations I have done over the past seven years. But I have come to realize one certainty – even as we light the Candle of Memory each Sunday morning, many of us are not prepared to speak about or deal with thoughts of death.
Many years ago, how I am not sure, I came across the words of Kahlil Gibran, author of The Prophet, (born January 6, 1883, in Bsharri, Lebanon). They changed my view and my fear of speaking about death dramatically.
As we celebrate the life of Don Ross on Friday, November 22nd, and as we stand in solidarity with Sarah Fraser as she and Roman deal with the death of John Fraser, father and grandfather, I would like to share Kahlil’s words in the hope that thoughts of death and dying are made a little more comfortable to deal with.
“……For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?
And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?
Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.
And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb.
And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.”
Words and imagery of hope and beauty, visions of new and unknown life to come. I offer these in peace.
Beryl