redemptive moments

Some of you will not know tommy, and I will find it hard to describe him. he is always the same age to me. a slightly awkward, but astute, loving, but difficult character. he is one of the most faithful members of our community, and often has depths of insight, challenges, that otherwise may remain unspoken. he is greatly loved. Last night his house burned down, and his dog died, and he is grieving. The fire officers that came out were wonderful to him - and provided such an act of grace. the police had given him a contact person to come and remove his dog, for a fee - £60. no one I know has that kind of money readily available, and tommy less so. but, a while later, the fire officer phoned and said that he and his crew had had a 'conflab' and 'if tommy signed off on it', they'd bury the dog, 'and give him a marker.' It was such a redemptive moment in an otherwise terrible night. And tommy was so pleased. He said 'ta, very much.' But I think he meant more than that.


A post-script to the 'fear of death as the thing'

Mark commented that people he is with don't think about death [or something to that effect]. I think that makes death exactly the thing. But more, I think that 'fear of death' does not just mean physically expiring, but touches our lives - from politicians to office workers, from allotment gardeners to us all. Maybe the concept of death is much more broad than we realise - so there is death of emotion, meaning, purpose, youth, friendship, hope, love, expectation. There is fear of death that touches our relationships to aging, our families, our jobs... I think that is how I understood Sam. And, for example, in the church - this fear permeates and touches upon change, and recognition, speaking out, and reconciliation...

Anyway. I need to keep working.