33 and 1

I flew in to Boston on business last Monday to the tragic news that 33 people had died at a college in Virginia when a gunman killed students and lecturers, ending with taking his own life. My American colleagues were in shock and the TV channels seemed to show nothing else all the while I was there.

Aside from again asking questions about America's ridiculous gun laws, I'm not sure asking questions about why it happened will get us very far. A twisted mind has led to many innocent victims and grieving families.

I got back to the UK to the news that an old friend had died. Ian Wilkie was only 62 and died of a brain tumor. He was the pastor that had married me and Roh years earlier. Always full of life, with a real energy, he will be missed.

33 and 1. Many more of course, every moment of the day. We all of us face death. For some there will be some warning, for others, it will be sudden. We pray for those who grieve, and we prepare ourselves for that journey as best we can.

Henry Venn, an Anglican minister in the 1700's, was told by his doctor that he was going to die and had only a few days to live. He was so excited at the prospect of going to be with his Lord, that the adrenalin that pumped around his system kept him alive for another three months! May we all be able to anticipate that day and say with St Paul 'death where is your sting?'

We grieve with the families of the 33 and the 1. And we look forward to a day where there will be no more tears, no more pain, no more needless killing.