Yesterday I heard of the tragic death of Ivan, disabled son of Conservative Leader David Cameron and his wife Samantha. One of the first to offer condolences was Labour Leader, Gordon Brown, who with his wife, Sarah, experienced the death of their firstborn, Jennifer Jane, back in 2002. Mr Brown stated, “I know that in an all too brief life, he brought joy to all those around him and I know also that for all the days of his life, he was surrounded by his family’s love.” We pray for David and Samantha as they grieve along with Gordon and Sarah as memories of Jennifer’s death flood back.
Thankfully, the weekly debacle of Prime Minister’s Question Time with all its political points scoring was suspended as the two opponents shared a common grief. For a brief period in time political enemies stand united.
Here, the shared of enemies was open but of course it is often hidden. “If we could read the secret history of our enemies we should find in each man’s life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility” so wrote Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. So often (and perhaps quite naturally) we only think of our own grief. Along with the news of the death of Ivan we have heard of further deaths in Afghanistan; more names to be added to the blank walls of the National War Memorial. But what of the grieving Afghan widow or Mother?
Soon we will come to the Passion of Christ and then to Easter which is said to be the most important festival in the Church Calendar. For me, however, it will always be Christmas it was at that point were God in Christ started to take on the sufferings of humankind; the everyday trials and struggles that are the lot of us all. God and humankind could easily have been enemies if it had not been that God took the initiative and shared in our grief. Through that move we are able to share in the mind of God, particularly his hopes and aspirations for us. Through shared suffering, dialogue between humans and God was opened up.
Ivan R.I.P
Can I learn something here? Am I able to share with those I consider my enemies? Am I able to bear the cost? The honest answer is I don’t know. The one thing I do know is that if I am to do it I must first share with the one who shared himself with me and who commanded me Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.
(Matthew 5:44-45)
Tags: lesson from life, sharing, Social Justice, war