Friday 11th March
Jeremiah 3.6–22Psalm 3, 7Galatians 3.1–14John 4.27–42 “What can be done about...?”
Uncle Steve died last December, he was 102 years old. Auntie Clem once said that she thought he was a vegetarian because he was too lazy to chew meat. For years he was the only vegetarian I knew. His family were the only Quakers I knew –apart from people they introduced me too. In their house I met Waldo Williams, another Quaker who I had heard about on the news for being in prison for refusing to work until conscription was finished. Uncle Steve went on Aldermaston Marches.
The meeting house in Milford Haven was overflowing for his memorial. The reflections attested to his brilliance as a captivating physics teacher, his literary ability in both English and Welsh – he was a Bard of the National Eisteddfod. He was still raising money for the local branch of the United Nations when he was 100 years old. He refused his telegram from the Queen (much to his wife’s chagrin). When he retired he came home and announced that he was going to Ghana to teach for two years. Letters were read from Ghana. Tales were told of letters and emails he wrote to bring awareness to little known problems. He liked Popeye the Sailorman. All the speakers said that they were the better for having known him. In a gentle and mischievous way he helped people to realize their gifts and potential. He asked questions that you did not want to be asked and always with a twinkle in his eye.
My family was small, his was big, he included me on trips with his daughters. I felt included and loved. He did not rely on ‘works of the Law’ he lived the underlying principles of the Law (Love the Lord your God with all your heart and your neighbour as yourself).
When he spoke in a Meeting it was not to tell us that we are sinners – we know that already - but “What can be done about...?”
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