The temperature went down to minus four overnight. Poor Owain, sleeping on the self inflating airbed in the lounge couldn't escape the chilly draught through the air vent that's also the fast access route for slugs from the garden. A noble gesture to allow his dad to sleep in his usual bed. A text message and email from British Telecom notified me of tomorrow's account switch from TalkTalk to BT. An OpenReach engineer visits on Thursday to configure the broadband link to work with the new 'digital voice' landline equivalent.
After breakfast, Kath drove me to St German's for Fr Roy's funeral Mass. Clare, Kath, Rachel and Owain went into the town centre for present shopping. It's Anto's birthday next weekend. The church was full of parishioners, family friends and colleagues from far and wide. Roy was a remarkable individual who lived the adventure of faith with humour, compassion, wise insight and great love for people, a charismatic personality, outgoing and always ready to celebrate life in all its fullness. The Solemn Requiem Mass was presided over by Fr Richard Lowndes, with Bishop Barry Morgan in choir and Fr Jarel officiating over the funeral rites.
Roy's god daughter delivered the eulogy, and Bishop Mary, who was unable to attend wrote a special prayer of thanksgiving for Roy's life. Bishop Michael Marshall preached a fine sermon reflecting on Roy's life as a pastor and priesthood in old age. He spoke about the clergy retirement experience of no longer feeling needed that comes when a priest is no longer in a leadership role, and the sense that part of a person called to ministry is the need to feel needed.
Last night I lay awake pondering on the impact and significance of the stroke which brought a halt to my active ministry. The haiku I wrote just before Christmas sums it up.
Despite the chaos
of motion and sensation.
'Time to stop' it warns.
Pay full attention and come
to terms with yourself.
Coming to terms with myself is about accepting my new limitations, being grateful for moments when I'm reminded by others of how God's grace has been revealed in relationships which have influenced their lives and mine. Also in being ministered rather than ministering to others. A Word which speaks to my condition. The liturgy was traditional, catholic, beautifully choreographed and executed with moments of deep silence and singing. The hymns were those chosen for golden jubilee of his ordination. Roy would have loved it. Starting at noon, I knew I'd be at risk of low blood sugar, so I took some dates and mini pork pies with me, just in case. I wasn't overwhelmed by the stimulus of such a great celebration, not even at the buffet lunch reception in the crowded church hall after. I chatted with a few people I knew, then made my way to the nearest stop on Newport Road for a city centre bus. As I was on the move, a call from Kath told me she was taking Owain to the train station. He has to work tomorrow. We couldn't rendezvous for a farewell hug as time was too tight, so we took our leave of each other on the phone. It was sunset by the time I reached home. It was overcast, dark and drizzling, though not as cold as it has been in recent days.
Kath's school friend Mandy came for supper. It was good to see her again. She still looks a younger than her age. She's now one of the senior librarians at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, in charge of a collection of original musical scores, amongst other things, a dream job for her. Both her sons are musicians, one a rock drummer, the other a classical concert pianist. Amazing how the children's children turn out. After Mandy left Rachel and I played together for a while. It was hard going for me, as my hand muscles were painfully stiff from family music sessions over the past few days By ten the girls were on their way to bed, and I wasn't far behind. Our internet speed has dropped considerably. It's a consequence of the service providor switch taking effect I guess.
No comments:
Post a Comment