Eternal Life

Over on my blog entitled "Saronic Stories" I have spoken today about Donald & Dina Lofthouse, a couple we met on holiday in Greece. Donald had been a plumber in his earlier years and worked in areas where he had inhaled asbestos dust. I had the experience of seeing him sink to nothing because the cancer this dust had caused in him. It was not a good experience, I can tell you. Eventually I attended his funeral at Disley Parish Church and subsequent cremation at Stockport.

Dina, his Greek wife, tried to carry on without him but suffered a stroke from which she never fully recovered. Whilst she was still ill she flew back to Anghistri, the Greek island where she was born. In August 2002 she died and was buried in the cemetery at Megalohori, her home village. A month later we arrived there to find she had gone. It was very sad to visit her grave and know we would never see her again.

Yet, on the other hand, there was the knowledge of what pleasure we had known thanks to Don and Dina. They had been a devoted couple but each was a great character. It makes one wonder if we carry on in partnership in the continuation or eternal life. I have taken over 80 funeral services to date, which is fairly unusual for a lay preacher. From time to time I have felt the need to use the following reading from the Book of Revelation in the cremation service I have taken:

"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, sparkling like a crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the sity's street. On either side of the river stood a tree of life, which yields twelve crops of fruit, one for each month of the year. The leaves of the trees are for the healing of the nations. Every accursed thing shall disappear. The throne of God and the Lamb will be there, and his servants shall worship him; they shall see him face to face and bear his name on their foreheads. There shall be no more night, nor will they need the light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God wil;l give them light; and they shall reign forever."

For me this is a great comfort and I love the poetry in the writing of this tale. I like to think that Don and Dina, together, enjoy the light that shines without need of sun or moon. If they hurt there is the healing quality of each tree of life. Dina used to love visiting Marks and Spencer in Manchester and buying her clothes there. Don used to like popping to the local pub for a drink just before closing time. I like to think they find similar or equivalent things in their new life in the eternal city of God.

The city described by John the Divine is to be sought by each Christian. It is the goal in our lives. It is the greatest gift we shall ever recieve in days to come. As for us, we cannot see the celestial city but I feel sure we can rely upon its existence because of the promises of Jesus. At my father's funeral service Rev Bernard Spong read these words, "In my Father's house are many mansions if this were not so I would have told you." At the time I felt great comfort that my father was to be allocated a wonderful mansion in which to live.

It made me feel that each Christian was moving slowly towards a wonderful afterlife in which he/she could never, ever be frightened into doing anything over which there was a question mark. Later, at my mother's funeral service, Rev Clifford Holgate said, "Death is but a horizon and a horizon is simply as far as the eye can see." This was another comfort to me - that there was a life for us to inherit and it would be a happy one. It was simply out of sight. No matter what our beliefs and no matter what we have or have not done, I believe there is a continuing life awaiting us where we shall be eternally happy. Jesus gave us a promise so it will be true.

What's happening?

The State of Israel happened as a consequence of the Holocaust. For years there has been a yearning on the part of Jews to return to what they considered their homeland. Some were already there whilst many had been part of the dispersal and lived in a number of different countries. Throughout history there is evidence of hatred of Jews which we call anti semitism. I honestly believe it is more accurately described as racism even though Judaism is a religion.

After the Second World, War Palestine was given as a Jewish homeland. However, there were Palestinians already living there cheek by jowl with Jews. It was inevitable that there would be a squabble over who had the right to live there. Since that time the situation has never been resolved. We have seen conflict after conflict flaring up. Sometimes the Jewish government has initiated the fighting and sometimes the Palestinians have kicked off.

In the 1970s I was on holiday in Anglesey (where coincidentally I now live) and I was in conversation with a Muslim man. I asked him where he came from and he told me he was from Lebanon. At that time Lebanon, as the man declared, was in a sorry state with much armed conflict happening within its borders. It was constantly headline news in the UK. We wondered if there would ever be a solution with a return to peace. In the UK where there was a deprived area with high crime rates we would say "It's like Beirut there." London became the centre for the trade that had once been carried on in Beirut and many Lebanese people lived in peace here.

Over the years the exiled Palestinians found a way to return to their homeland, albeit one governed by Jews. They settled in their allocated areas and tried to return to a peaceful life where their children could receive good healthcare and education. Naturally, they continued to claim that the land was their's by right as did their Jewish neighbours. Jewish settlements encroached on Palestinian land as some Jews deliberately risked a stand-off with these people they considered lowest of the low. Then some of the settlements were removed with strong opposition from these right wing Jewish settlers towards their government.

The last few years have seen a period of violence with Palestinian suicide bombers giving their lives in a cause they were proud to die for. Eventually the old enemy of Israel, Yassa Arafat, died and a new regime began. The activities may have paused occasionally but now, with Hamas in charge, there seemed little chance of an early peace deal. So the conflict continued.

Now Israel has turned on its other enemy, Hezbollah, in Lebanon, and is trying to exterminate it. Thousands of people, previously living a quiet life, are now caught up in the conflict as Israel destroys their homes by the hundred. President George W Bush, self appointed world policeman, is calling for a ceasefire when enough damage has been done. He also sends consignments of smart bombs to arm the Israeli side of the conflict whilst providing blankets as aid for the homeless.

What is happening? How can we make sense of it? In the USA there is a President, who claims to be a born again Christian, raining war via Israel on Lebanon. Jesus is the one we call the "Prince of Peace". George claims to follow Jesus, and starts his day's work with a period of prayer. But the day's work involves armed conflict. How does this stack up with Christianity?

The whole episode is a travesty of justice. It is built on a pursuit of popularity by an American President. In the same way he refuses to sign up to combatting global warming because it would involve loss of jobs in the USA. He says it is for the likes of China and India to do their bit before he will commit America to play its part. The fact is they cannot afford to do so and he can. The fact is that he must show the lead but he will not. So, the world has to continue with this threat of eventual extinction over American jobs which can be replaced in many different ways as has been the case in countries who have recognised their responsibilities.

It seems today as if the USA are saying, "Sort yourselves out but don't expect help from us in any way." They purport to be the allies of the UK but what sort of alliance are we pursuing with Blair and Bush these days. I think we are strange bedfellows indeed. Both the President and our Prime Minister claim to be Christians but I wonder how they can claim it in present circumstances.

Jesus told Peter, "Feed my sheep." Are there any shepherds out there feeding sheep? I see a world not with double standards but multi standards. I see nations incapable of setting an example to others. What's happening and where are we heading?

I am worried!