A week of paradox

“It brings it home that she is gone, and we won’t see her again” said one lady watching Wednesday’s procession of Her Majesty’s coffin to Westminster Hall. In June’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations her son Charles said “you are our head of State and you are also our mother.” For many in our nation, she was rather like everybody’s favourite granny, a constant figure of wisdom, kindness and good humour, in an age of uncertainty.

She wasn’t perfect of course, and people hold strong views about the monarchy. But this weekend many from our region will travel to London to pay our final respects. An intensity of emotion is being poured out.

This is a week of paradox. In our region, daily life goes on as usual, yet the nation is observing 10 days of mourning. It is common and normal for a frail 94 year-old woman to fade and die, yet we feel the sudden shock of Her Majesty’s passing. We are fascinated by death yet often we are afraid of death. We respond like it was never meant to happen - but it is – and coming to terms with death is the pathway to a mature and peaceful life. The Queen faced hers with dignity.

The sting of death is hardest when it feels untimely, unfair. These national events may trigger all sorts of memories and emotions for those of us in the midst of fresh grief or unresolved trauma. Paradoxically, it is right and healthy to embrace grief and lament in such times. We should watch out for those we know, and let them hear or see that we care.

You can’t stop the world from turning, yet there is something about death that is not meant to be - we need the hope of eternal life because, sadly, we do grieve on earth. Queen Elizabeth spoke regularly of her deep Christian faith and was known to pray on her knees nightly. She suffered all kinds of loss over the years, yet she knew personally the comfort that Jesus Christ is to those who mourn.

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home” said Jesus.

No other religion or person speaks such comfort in death and grieving as Jesus - it draws the sting of death, because it points to the invitation of eternal life through faith in God.

Let us not miss the opportunity, as thousands file past Her Majesty in London, silently reflecting or praying in their own way, to contemplate the eternal.