Extraordinary

It’s been a tough day. I don’t know anything about cars, so when they break it’s always tough. I’ve been given my mum’s little car by the family (for Zac) which is very kind of them. But it broke because it wasn’t driven during the lockdown And it’s my experience that getting a car fixed is always complicated. It’s being fixed by a great guy, but I’ll have to come back to Wimborne to get it! And then, it was to the solicitor to begin sorting out mum’s estate. That would have been fine except we were in Wimborne and the solicitor was in Canford Cliffs (half an hour’s drive away). It meant I couldn’t be at the re-arranged meeting because I had other commitments this afternoon, counselling those who’ve lost, or are losing their loved ones. Tough! And really tough because today I am coming to terms with the death of a friend and colleague. I will miss Andrew. I will miss his work ethic. I will miss his smile. I will miss his indomitable spirit. I will miss his “can do” attitude. I will miss his jokes. No, really I will. I will miss him. I will miss his extraordinary example. He was, quite simply an extraordinary man. He knew and understood he was ill, but he never let it stop him. He hit it head on. Every time. His extraordinary courage was, is and will continue to be both a challenge and an inspiration to me. And he reflected so clearly another extraordinary life. The life that he invited into his life. The life that transformed his life and made it extraordinary. And it is extraordinary that, death brings life. Death, the death of loved ones and those we love, is tough. Really, really tough. But, when lived in the light of one extraordinary man, it becomes extraordinary. Thank you Andrew for living your extraordinary life in front of me. Thank you to the one who lived an extraordinary life that brings us life and the assured hope that one day, one fine day, we will meet in the presence of the Most High God with bodies that will not fail. And that will be extraordinary.