Family history on my finger!

I've had a box called "family archives" in the garage for years! Every now and then I dip into it although it all feels rather overwhelming! But today I discovered something rather special.

On an envelope addressed to my mother containing her Dad's 100th birthday cards and telegrams, I noticed for the first time the customs declaration.

The top line reads: "Wedding ring of deceased parent".

I've always known that the ring I wear was Grandpa's wedding ring re-sized to fit Mum and bequeathed to me after Mum died. But somehow seeing the actual envelope in which it travelled (safely!) from UK to NZ in 1977 was a special link to the past.  

Grandpa was born in 1876 and died four weeks after his 100th birthday. Sadly he had a fall and broke his femur just two weeks before his birthday. The Home for Retired Teachers, where he had been living had planned a wonderful party for him and were very disappointed that he had to celebrate his birthday in hospital.

The beginning and end of the article read: 

"Boxing Day was to have been the proudest day in the long life of Mr Frederick Emlyn Phillips, of Trentham. A fabulous party was planned at the Teachers Benevolent Home, New Park, and visitors were due from all parts of the country to attend Mr Phillips 100th birthday celebrations.

And the 40-odd residents and staff were also excited and ready to make the occasion one to remember. By alas, the big party was forestalled by an accident. Mr Phillips suffered a nasty fall and was taken to the North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary, where it was found he had fractured a femur.

...

Miss Sarah M. Jones (social secretary) and Mr. Albert Arrowsmith (administrative officer) were also very disappointed at the cancellation of the party. "He is a gracious person and one of nature's 'true gentlemen,' said Mr Arrowsmith."

How's this for his telegram from the Queen!

Amazing to think that the Queen who had this sent to my Grandpa in 1976 is still our Queen today!

Grandpa in his younger years (note the tie-pin!)

An Ocean of Light

I have just started reading the third in the series of books on contemplation by Martin Laird. In order they are:

It is best to read them in that order as Laird takes you step by step from the edge of the ocean into deeper and deeper water. I have read the first two books twice and gained so much each time. I'm only a few pages in with the third but this morning the following sentence provided my Lectio Divina for today! 

"Contemplation and the lifestyle leading to it and flowing from it, asks but a single question, 'What does kindness look like at any given moment?'"

I am struck by the simplicity of this statement and its question. Why did Laird choose the word kindness rather than love, or compassion? Perhaps for the very reason that it is so surprising. I would have expected the word love or perhaps compassion. But kindness is such a simple, gentle, unassuming quality. Anyone can be kind. Kindness does not require any special skills, forethought or preparation... aha ... there's the conundrum! It's true that kindness is shown by many people quite unexpectedly and naturally. That's wonderful. However, I think what Laird is saying is that the practice of contemplation develops a lifestyle from which kindness flows. That makes sense. Contemplative prayer (and contemplative living) are practices of letting go the self focussed narrative of thoughts and motivation. Less self focus allows more spaciousness for God and for others.

As I ponder that, I think I am a more kind and gentle person now than I was some years ago. I can't be sure that is necessarily the fruit of my contemplative practice but I'm happy to think the two may be linked. And I smile ruefully at the fact that between writing the previous paragraph and this one I was out for few hours and was very impatient and frustrated at the incompetence of a "customer service" situation! Ah well, the reminder that I'm still a beginner is no bad thing. I think I am  quicker to recognise my own faults with kindness even as I hope to do better.