Pause For Thought - Committing To The Great Adventure Of Life
Monday 11th June 2012
The Archbishop today joined Chris Evans and his Radio 2 Breakfast Show in the studio to give a Pause For Thought. The Archbishop spoke about sharing his birthday with Prince Philip and the birth of Eli Evans. The text of his Pause For Thought follows...Chris, as you know, I share a birthday date – 10th June - with Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. Yesterday Prince Philip was 91, so he’s seen quite a bit more history than I have so far!
And there has been another birthday just recently – baby Eli Alfred Michael Evans! 10 days old today! What wonderful names – an Old Testament prophet, a famous English King and an Archangel! What does the future hold for him!
So it’s no wonder we’ve all been celebrating. Prince Philip and Eli Evans – both at the opposite ends of their lives – and me somewhere in between - but all bound together by the things which are constants in our lives: our common humanity, the love of our families, our communities, our country, all underpinned by the constant love of God – the same yesterday, today, and for ever.
And yesterday I was also celebrating 600 years of a church in North Yorkshire, and we read about when Jesus was talking to large crowds about the cost of being a disciple. Jesus asks his followers – what would you do if you wanted to build something that will last? Obvious – lay a strong foundation. He goes on to say – anyone who wants to follow him needs to reckon the cost, so that they are ready for the long haul. Jesus himself had counted the cost, and was willing to come and live amongst us, even though it would end up with pain and death before the final celebration.
Last week at this time we were celebrating the life and service of our Queen - someone who had thought about the cost of lifelong service and had never flinched from the commitment. Whether we’re at the beginning of our lives, like Eli, in the middle, like me, or much further on, like Prince Philip, may we commit ourselves to the great adventure of life – strengthened by a venturesome faith.