All deaths are a shock. Even the death of someone terminally ill comes as a shock. Sudden death though is more shocking by its suddenness. Life is turned upside down! ‘Thrown into utter chaos’ more accurately describes the immediate and ongoing response to a sudden death. Life has changed forever. Many people, hearing Robert hadContinue reading “10. Shock, tragedy and disaster”
Category Archives: Grieving
8.Resurrection bodies – early questions
During those first hours on the morning Robert died, the vicar just sat amidst the chaos. At one point we gathered around Robert’s body. We took off our shoes for we were on holy ground. Heaven and earth were meeting at this moment and in this place, ‘a thin place’. The vicar anointed Robert’s bodyContinue reading “8.Resurrection bodies – early questions”
7. God IS good
In 2017, Robert was diagnosed with a blood cancer (CLL for anyone medical reading this – Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia). He went on a clinical trial which apart from making him slightly more tired had few side effects. At the end of the trial, his results were amazingly hopeful. His bone marrow was as good asContinue reading “7. God IS good”
6a Advent food for thought
Today, we celebrated the first day of Advent. Many churches held Christingle services or an Advent carol service. This year 1st December is not only the start of the Church’s year (four Sundays before Christmas), it’s also the first day for opening an Advent calendar door and lighting Advent candles. This year it’s a combinedContinue reading “6a Advent food for thought”
6. No saying “Good-bye!”
I wish I could have said, “Good-bye!” to Robert. We always made a point of greeting one another and of saying “Good-bye”. If I was at home, I’d always see him to the front door when he went to work. I loved meeting up with him too at pre-arranged places (cafés, libraries, bookshops (a favourite!),Continue reading “6. No saying “Good-bye!””
4. In the midst of death…
We got back from Paris after 11pm. The following morning Robert and the vicar were going to meet up to talk about Robert’s future ministry as a priest. The vicar had ‘RW’ written in his diary … but neither he nor Robert had anticipated the circumstances! The vicar sat on the sofa in the livingContinue reading “4. In the midst of death…”
3. House blessing
Soon after we’d moved to Sheffield we invited a good friend to conduct a house blessing in our new home. She’s a priest in the Church of England. It’s a recognised way of consciously inviting God to be present in a new or an unsettled home. As a family we prayed in each room forContinue reading “3. House blessing”
2. Was Paris a gift or not?
We love Paris, Robert more so than I. He’d studied modern languages at university. Living in France as a student was very formative. He nearly became a Moonie, experienced loneliness as never before, learnt to ski, sang in a band in a folk festival, became fluent in the French language, grieved his father’s untimely death.Continue reading “2. Was Paris a gift or not?”
1a. Michaelmas Day 2019
Today has been a day worth commenting on. It partially explains why I’ve been blogging for the last few months! 28th September 2014 (Michaelmas Day) Michaelmas Sunday five years ago (at the time of writing)… Robert was ordained a priest by the Bishop of Edmonton, in St Michael’s Highgate. It was a glorious day –Continue reading “1a. Michaelmas Day 2019”
Sudden death... then what? 