On Tuesday 2nd May I joined a celebration (linked by Zoom as it was in Cornwall) for the life of a very dear friend of mine with whom I worked with and got to know when we lived in Saltash, Cornwall. Brian was a man full of faith and had nearly reached his 90's. He was an eminent surgeon in the field of vascular surgery. It was a great celebration of a life well lived, a man well loved, and despite the sadness at the parting, a deep assurance that he was now in the presence of the Lord whom he loved and followed.
On Friday 5th May I was in Trentham, just outside Stafford for a celebration for the life of (Revd) Kay Johnston, who had died on Good Friday aged 74. This 'Service' was a huge celebration with people from across the UK, nearly 200 altogether and the celebration lasted over two hours!
Meanwhile our family have been travelling through the trial of Stephen McHugh, now found guilty of murdering our great niece, Becca, aged 22. He was given a life-sentence plus an addition of four and half years to run concurrently. The judge laid it down that he will not be able to apply for parole for at least 18 years.
https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/oswestry/2023/05/04/killer-who-mowed-woman-down-outside-oswestry-takeaway-faces-life/
All of this was buzzing in my brain while out for a short run on a very wet
Saturday morning. As is my custom on Saturday's I was listening to Radio
2 and this song caught my attention. In particular the line that speaks
about when we go (die) people will not ask about what we have but what we stood
for.
https://youtu.be/pAuNaWKSg8A
At Becca funeral that's what we heard, and the same thing for Brian and for
Kay. Their love, their characters, the foibles, nothing about the size of their
bank balance or the amount in their bank account.
Stephen McHugh will die having a murder conviction against his name. The judge
urged him to use the time in prison to turn his life around, to reflect deeply
on what he has done and endeavour to make the best use of his life when (and
if) he comes to be released from prison.
On Sunday 7th May at St Oswald's we were reflecting on the Wedding at Cana (All Age
Worship) and we were invited to reflect on Mary's words, 'do whatever he tells
you.' They had to trust Mary and more importantly trust Jesus.
Brian lived a full and fruitful life, Kay suffered from a catalogue of illnesses for most of her life and especially in the last five years, and died at a relatively young age, Becca's life was snuffed out tragically in her early years when she should have had long years ahead of her.
It is worth pondering on what might be said about us when 'we go.'
It is worth pondering on where, and in whom we put our trust, what 'story' are we being guided by to help us navigate our way through life, however long or short that might be.
Given his catalogue of previous crimes and his life McHugh was obviously living a 'story' that led to this awful tragedy. We can only hope and pray that he will hear and heed the call to live his life listening to a very different 'story.'
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