Mornings have always been my favourite time of the day.
This morning is one of those golden mornings.
Temperature below zero.
Completely clear London sky.
A gorgeous red gold sun beaming its spectacular glow on the waking
world.
I’ve come into work early today. 6.30 to be precise. It is
quiet in the office. The world is stirring outside. Traffic is building, people
are stepping out into the day, all with their earphones in and backpacks on,
all treading their well-worn paths to school, college, work, wherever.
I have a couple of hours until my work day officially begins
at 8.30.
So
I am reflecting on where I am now.
For those who don’t know in the after-shock of my ministry
being put on hold I took a job with a funeral company.
It’s been fantastic.
As mad as that sounds.
Obviously as a minister I have conducted many funeral
services all over the country. The other thing is in my previous career as a
nurse obviously I have dealt with death before. So here I am in the midst of people’s
grief and despair every day.
Yesterday I sat with a lady in this very office who just
wanted to talk about her mother who had died recently and our company had taken
care of the funeral. She was struggling badly with bereavement and kept saying “I
wish I could just talk to my mum right now”. I made her a cup of tea and just
sat and listened. I was able to encourage her to speak out her grief to open up
her emotions and let the tears flow. She shared with me that she had not been
able to bring her emotion and grief to the surface in front of her family because
she felt she needed to stay strong. I was able to help her to break down that stronghold
yesterday.
And
I understood why I am in this job right now.
I am carrying a wealth of pastoral experience into the heart
of people’s despair.
And
Although I miss some aspects of looking after the spiritual
needs of a church. Even though for now I’ve put speaking on platforms and
stages aside for a short period, I understand that this job is the best
possible place for me to be right now.
Being in the midst of the darkness of bereavement is truly
reigniting my passion to help people, to minister, to be there as a light in
this dark world.
People have said to me isn’t it a bit depressing working in
funerals.
Listen
It’s far from depressing.
It’s actually an honour.
It’s an opportunity to touch the lives of people who in
desperate need.
I know that soon my speaking and writing will return, I am
healed now of all the wounds that were inflicted spiritually and emotionally
over the last few years. I feel strong, and I feel I am in totally the place
where I need to be right now.
So.
I thought I would let you know exactly what I am up to right
now.
And.
I want to say thank you to my readers all over the world for
your tremendous encouragement to me and I leave this simple message today.
Whatever your circumstance is right now. However deep the
trouble seems. However, locked in to a spiritual, mental or physical prisons you
are, it can be turned round.
It doesn’t have to be forever.
Blessings on you today guys.
