Lilian, Cornelius, and Passing Time,

Yesterday we attended Lilian’s funeral service. Lilian has been a respected, longstanding member of our church family. She founded our church Girls Brigade company and was its captain for many years. She was clear-thinking and outspoken, patient, generous and kind.

We celebrated Lilian’s life together; heard stories, learnt more about her. Anecdotes were told that many of us hadn’t heard before; her consistent character we always recognised. Reflecting afterwards, a friend said, ‘Lilian was a force of nature, a one-off, unique…’

This week a gigantic 21ft-tall weathervane modelled after Cornelius, Kellogg’s cockerel, was temporarily installed nearby at the UK’s most easterly point, Ness Point in Lowestoft. Cornelius is now 67 years old; he’s been on Corn Flakes boxes since 1958.

Kellogg’s vice president, Jenn Carkner explained: “We are launching a campaign to celebrate the uniqueness of mornings… What better way to welcome a brand-new day than with a totally unique and show-stopping weathervane, topped by our legendary mascot Cornelius in all his glory.”

Cornelius, like Lilian, is unique. Both have enjoyed a long life. Cornelius may be better known than Lilian, but both are temporary, governed by time; they have a beginning and an end.

At Christmas granddaughter-Hannah wore a jumper that Lilian knitted for her many years ago. Lilian’s memory will remain in our family, but even Hannah’s jumper won’t last forever.

Yesterday we sang: ‘The King of love my shepherd is, Whose goodness faileth never…’ A Shepherd-God who continues; goodness… Lilian’s patience, generosity and kindness that continue.

I remembered St Paul’s words, often read at weddings, equally important at funerals: ‘…where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away… And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.’ Contrasting the temporary with the continuing.

In a world that so much – even life itself – is temporary, we enjoy the unique, and appreciate the continuance of faith, hope, and especially love.