Yesterday’s news: Catherine, Princess of Wales, completed the Three Peaks Challenge – climbing the highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales in twenty-four hours – to raise awareness of cancer charities.
Catherine said, ‘Every year hundreds of thousands of people hear the words that no one wants to hear. What follows… tests every part of who we are physically, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually.’
She was advocating ‘holistic healthcare’ for people with cancer, to improve ‘wellbeing, resilience and quality of life during an exceptionally difficult time.’
On Sunday: At church we sung, ‘For God so loved the world that He gave us His one and only Son to save us. Whoever believes in Him will live forever.’ We thought about God doing the unexpected… his direct involvement in the lives of his followers.
A young man told me of his spiritual journey: leaving home, discovering God in most unusual circumstances, planning what might come next.
Wellbeing, resilience and quality of life for the Christian… holistic, involving a loving God…
In school: Twenty years ago… the end of the summer term… reflecting on individual children’s progress through the year with end of year reports and parents’ evenings. Sports day, end of term concerts, certificates and awards…
Anticipation and looking forward to what came next, with some children and staff leaving whilst others were preparing to join in September…
Wellbeing, resilience and quality of life for children… part of their ongoing growth and development.
At our Men’s Shed: Yesterday’s conversations… Mike reflecting on his four marriages, mistakes, relationship with his current wife… Derek saying how sick he’d been, the effects of his medication, being unable to leave his home since Christmas… Charlie, having looked after his sick wife 24/7 for years, now planning her funeral…
Wellbeing, resilience and quality of life… involving hospitals, family, dementia…
Musing… Wellbeing, resilience and quality of life… Holistic… Physical, emotional, psychological, spiritual…
For… Catherine and cancer sufferers… those with Christian faith …children with life before them… older folk… accepting the past, managing the present, hope for the future.
malcolmsmusings.org 
With, hopefully respectful, regards to:-
At church we sung, ‘For God so loved the world that He gave us His one and only Son to save us. Whoever believes in Him will live forever.’ We thought about God doing the unexpected… his direct involvement in the lives of his followers.
I have to say, polemical as it may be, that when I asked, as a child, why did God allow such suffering? Why did he allow the evolving of insects whose only survival relied upon the agony of others, often children? The only answer I ever got was that God created the universe but gave wo/man freedom of will and his creation the ability to evolve without his interference.
That obviously led me to doubt the efficacy of prayer. And I still wonder whether praying to a God to help a “dear one” has a point if their God has just allowed thousands of innocent people to die in Venezuela due to his promised lack of interference.
I expect God will be thanked for any still living people dragged from the catastrophe.
I did say “hopefully respectful” and “polemical as it may be”.
However, I do have great admiration for, and thank the people who do such marvellous supporting work for those less fortunate. No matter what motivates them.
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As always, Alan I enjoy your responses – even if I don’t agree with them!. I think as I’ve got older although I have more questions and realise that I understand less, my faith in a personal loving God is stronger and deeper than ever, and the reality of prayer is an important part of who I am.
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Hope you don’t mind me jumping in, but if God loves the world, then our suffering can be temporary. Jesus entered into our suffering to deliver us from it.
What’s the alternative? Survival of the fittest? Dog eat dog? If that’s the case, suffering is all we can expect and why are we even bothered about it?
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I’m with you Robert. I’m certainly more prepared to take the step of faith, believing in a loving God, and Jesus who entered our suffering world, living with us by his Spirit, than to believe in any alternative – which I believe also requires faith.
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Of course I don’t mind you jumping in Robert.
As Malcolm knows I have every respect for all faiths. In fact I envy people their certainty.
Unfortunately, life does seem to be, and probably always will be, survival of the fittest. I would hope that innocent children would be able to hope for more than just “suffering”.
I suppose the alternative to “survival of the fittest” and “dog eat dog” was the Communist Manifesto, which I was brought up with. But, that could never work because some of us have aspirations to better our lot while others have neither the inclination or mental/physical capacity. Obviously, what is referred to as communism in some countries is nothing but dictatorship.
I remember upsetting the vicar in Pulham Market recently because I happened to mention the sterling work that LRBC do for the community. Whereas his CofE church seemed to do very little. A friend, who attends that CofE church, said he goes into the schools. I said it was probably to indoctrinate the kids. I’d upset her then and had to eat humble pie and assure her the last thing I ever want to do is disparage someone’s faith.
“Why are we even bothered about it” Robert? I am looking out from my study window and can see so much beauty. The flora and fauna. We’re lucky to have a large garden and we allow all animals in. Watching little rabbits scampering about, deer pruning the roses and the many birds coming to out feeders. Plus, having a wonderful family and having achieved everything I have and hopefully still can. This is why I feel it is worth bothering.
I just wish more people I know who profess to be Christian would show a bit more of the empathy and grace that Jesus imparted. However, I do not believe in altruism. I think whatever we do is all an investment for peace of mind really.
But enough cynicism for one day. Take care and let us all enjoy the wonders around us while at the same time doing a little to help those less fortunate.
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Thanks, Alan. I love your responses – I’m looking out on our garden too… grateful to God for my life. I’ve prayed to Him this morning, and will live today with Him. I look forward to our discussion continuing😊
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Your musings on end of year school activities certainly stirred a few memories.
Listening to my 12 year old grandson at the weekend, playing his guitar very proficiently, reminded me of the heartfelt joy I used to get from seeing young people performing to their utmost level of ability. Singing and dancing; running and jumping; solving complex Maths problems; writing beautiful poetry….
Having been privileged to attend the First Light Festival with the Festival Pastors group it was good to talk to young people about their aspirations for the future. It reaffirmed my belief that the majority of them want to achieve the best that they are able to.
The lyrics of “Rhymes and reasons” by John Denver remind me of how much we need to invest in the youth of today if tomorrow is to be a better place.
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Thanks, Kevin. Many happy memories! I agree – most people – in particular most young people – are good people. I must have missed you at First Light. Several friends were involved with the Festival Pastors and in the Soul Space tent. Thanks too for reminding me of ‘Rhymes and reasons’.
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This is such a powerful reminder that “holistic” isn’t just a concept we use in theory. It’s lived out in very different, very real human spaces. Thank you for drawing those threads together so thoughtfully.
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I think, Mervin, that’s what attracted me to what Kate was saying in the first place. I’ve met medics, educators, church folks who talk about holistic, but actually only see things from their limited perspective… whereas good specialists also see the context of the big picture
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