Rector's letter for October Fowey News
Dear Friends
We’re all different. We live in a world in which our differences are often highlighted: our different colours, religions, cultures, sexualities, genders, abilities, ideologies, philosophies, skills, musical tastes, economic means, sporting preferences, dietary choices, and political persuasions. And there’s something intriguing and brilliant about our diversity! The world would be a dull place if we were all the same.
But alongside much diversity, there are still many things that we all have in common. Some are obvious. We all need water, food, and shelter to survive. We all have good days and bad days. We all like to laugh and smile. We are all relational and want to be loved. We are all afraid – of something at least. We are all physical. We are all emotional.
Over the coming months, I want to explore some of the things we all have in common, not least because I think we have more in common than not. And, I want to start with a biggie: By and large, we all want to live.
Turning fifty was sobering for me. It meant that my life is well over halfway through. Having a heart attack was even more sobering. It meant that I may not have as long left as I assumed. The passing of time is more than a little disconcerting. Life is there to be lived. Our constant appetite to grow and learn and experience and try and love and thrive is all a striving to squeeze every last bit of juice out of life – and to not die. It’s why some people give up smoking or drink a bit less. Others take regular exercise, and even eat salad. It’s also why dying people often try to cling on. They battle for a few more days, hours, or minutes. The desire for life within them is huge and strong. And that desire is in us all.
But this is no surprise, because the Bible says that God has made us for life – eternal life, no less:
God has … set eternity in the human heart (Ecclesiastes 3:11). That’s why we want to live. The desire for life is hardwired in us all. We were designed that way. And yet we all know we’re in the queue for death, even if we don’t know exactly where we are in the queue.
Christians believe and trust in Jesus partly because He is the one person in all history to have taken on death and won. This is why Christians have hope in the face of death. If you have ever noticed that desire for life in you, if you want more life … life to the full … eternal life, then Jesus is your man. We all want to live. We desire life. Eternal Life. Jesus says he can give it to us.
(with thanks to Pete Jackson)
with every blessing
Philip