The Magazine

When I was asked to contribute this comment, it was a shock to realise that I had been numbered as one of the Elect of the Third Age – but of course, that’s what I am, with a fair number of All Hallows’ Community. As I pondered, I remembered being told years ago as a music student: “You can’t put music into watertight compartments!” – i.e. there are no rigid boundaries between different musical forms, styles and periods; and it is foolish to try to classify in such a way. The same goes for human nature, across and within age groups.

In our All Hallows fellowship we know the importance of interacting with, and appreciating the giftedness of each and every one; it is part of our DNA. But deeper and more telling than that is the pooling of vocational wisdom and insight, the appreciation of each other as God’s creation, the ability to laugh or grieve together (even if there is a little grumble too, sometimes). This cuts right across the age divide, and is a precious, often unsung part of our community life.

It has to be worked at and maintained in prayer for each other – but whatever the shape of the future All Hallows. I hope it will continue to be a source of strength and nourishment for us and those around us.

Pious observations like this need earthing in reality. What real lessons of this type have I learned over the past 46-ish years?

Firstly – to be thankful for any blessings and especially the unremarkable ones, and those through whom they come. (Sister Dorothea could say, in her mid-80’s: “I’ve never been a miserable person – but I’ve never been as happy as I am now!”) And to appreciate fresh ones – breadmaking, spiritual direction and mastering IT (but not driving…God help other road users).

Secondly – an ever-deepening sense of the reality of God in your life. The less spectacular, the surer it is and the more sustaining. This was borne in on me at a recent funeral for a well-loved ex-staff member. Hearing “I AM the Resurrection and I AM Life”; knowing that one really is part of that truth and all it carries for this life and the next; basing one’s own life on that conviction.

Thirdly – a growing knowledge that prayer, at its heart and at its most effective, really IS as simple as saying to God “Here – am – I”, allowing his echoing “I – am – here!” to envelop you; and letting him use that being there as he will. It takes care of all the other prayers, the liturgy, all we are, pray and do for others in his Name.

God is good and ever-merciful, and a dab hand at making best use of the least promising material. We thank him that with his help, we can do our bit to feed that grace into wherever it is needed.

“Grant us the grace of final perseverance, that the work you have begun in us may be performed till the day of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever, AMEN.”