30th November 2025
I was the on call hospital chaplain one night this week and at around 1:00am the phone rang. Yes, it was the hospital. I know the routine – get the details and before I drive there get the NHS paperwork, my lanyard, and my pastoral resources. Yes, I say a prayer (or two) on the way because the description of the situation will be lived out, fleshed out, incarnate by the actual people I meet.
Hours later I am on my way home. Most of the time I stood still, occasionally sat, and said nothing. I listened. I waited. I listened some more. Yes, there were times when I did speak – an introduction, Bible readings, a rite, prayers, blessings – but more often I was nearby but out of the way, just outside the inner circle of family. Sometimes I was hugged. Sometimes I placed my hand on a shoulder or an arm. There are many emotions, tears, sighs, silence, and talking – and I listen – a privilege for a stranger with a funny accent to be part of this group – not because of me personally but because I’m there in Jesus’ name.
Nobody in the room expected to be in the hospital when they woke up that day. I know I didn’t. Living can take a dramatic turn so suddenly. When such things happen then the future one thought was going to happen is irrevocably changed. The planned future may return but not in the timing one expected. The cast of characters in one’s life can still be there but the relationships change – hopefully they are enriched – but there is a difference one didn’t see coming. Of course one doesn’t suddenly have to go to hospital for such an experience. It may come from a doctor’s visit, a promotion at work, a betrayal discovered, a declaration of love, a financial crash, a marriage proposal (yes, they still happen!), and so many other things in life.
When there is such destabilising, when your world is rocked violently, when you feel you’re falling into an unknown you didn’t want or expect to what do you grab? Everyone will have answers – we all grab hold of something! And Christians do so as well. We’re not immune to such sudden life changing events. In fact for us it can be harder if the changing is what we don’t want, what we judge to be horrible. (What are you doing, God?!) But Christians are reminded each Sunday that with our God it is not what we do that counts but it is what God does that is important. Each Sunday in worship we receive God and his blessings. Living is not about us holding onto God but about God holding onto us. Perseverance in tough times or when the horrible or the unexpected happens is not about us first and foremost but about God telling us at the beginning and ending of the day, of the Church Year, of our life that he is for us not against us, that he brings good from all things (even the horrible things), and that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus! Perseverance in the faith, trusting in God is not about us scrunching our eyes, gritting our teeth, and holding on but is a daily receiving and reminder of God’s faithfulness to us through words, water, bread and wine no matter what might happen next.
A blessed new Church Year to us all whatever comes our way this year!
GS