Yesterday was Vi’s funeral; she’d been part of our Lowestoft church family for many years. Friends and family shared memories; her son, Peter, told her life story. In recent years, as Vi’s health deteriorated, he would visit her each week from his home in Norwich.
What stayed with me was Peter’s explaining how he turned ‘I’ve got to see mum’ into ‘I’ll get to see mum’. What he felt he had to give in time and effort, became what he willingly gave and received in joy and pleasure. He turned duties into opportunities.
Yesterday’s news showed Kate, Princess of Wales, at the Chase Community Hospital in Hampshire, speaking with patients and staff, parents and children. She’s involved with a project that helps healthcare and childcare professionals identify early withdrawal in babies and young children, supporting their social and emotional development.
Princess Kate carries out her royal duties. By taking a personal interest in such projects, she turns her duties into opportunities to learn, understand, empathise and support.
Following Russell Brand’s jail sentence, there have been allegations against David Walliams of the grooming and sexual exploitation of teenage girls. Women, having previously felt silenced by powerful men, are bravely coming forward, telling of their experiences.
Our society has a duty to stand against men who feel they have a right to abuse vulnerable women; alongside that duty there’s an opportunity for all good men and woman to stand with the exploited, against previously accepted and acceptable attitudes and behaviours, to change our society.
This morning I’ve been reading the beginning of Romans 5. St Paul, at his eloquent best, writing about faith, peace, grace, hope, love, joy… states that ‘we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope’.
Paul often speaks of our Christian duties – that aren’t always easy – but these lead us to opportunities for deeper knowledge and experience as he continues: ‘And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts.’
