‘Go on’

SOME years ago I was interviewed in Skibo Castle by the late Harry Secombe concerning the Church and humour, and the considerable funds my humorous books had raised for Cystic Fibrosis, a disease from which my granddaughter Sally suffered.

While the cameras and microphones were being set up, Harry and I had time to chat. What a happy and unforgettable hour that was. When Harry laughed, and he laughed often, his small body shook from head to toe. When I asked about the wording on his lovely signet ring, he said, “It’s my motto – Go on” Then with a broad smile on his face, and a twinkle in his eye, he added, “You can read it as Goon if you like!”

‘Go on’, that is not a bad motto – go on caring, go on forgiving, go on putting principle before profit, go on encouraging others, go on putting people before things.

Jesus’ words, “Follow me” cut through a maze of theology. To follow, literally means to travel the same road. Jesus knew that we become more compassionate by showing compassion, not by being a spectator of human suffering. The response of the Good Samaritan to the Jew who had been mugged, I am sure was not an isolated incident. I cannot help thinking that over the years, it had become second nature for the Samaritan to lend a helping hand when confronted with people in need. What he did that day on the Jerusalem – Jericho Road, was I am sure the outcome of a lifelong habit of caring.

It is also by going on acting courageously that we become more courageous. During the Battle of Britain, a radio commentator, when announcing the number of German planes that had been shot down, fell into the habit of ending each announcement with the exclamation, “Who is afraid of the German Focke-Wulf?” (the nickname for the German air-force.)

A British pilot finally sent to the radio announcer a picture of his crew. On the back he wrote: “Who is afraid of the Focke-Wulf? We are.” The entire crew had signed their names. Courageous people are not those who have no fear, but those who are prepared to act bravely, despite often being cold with fear.

Jesus also knew that it is by going on forgiving that we become more forgiving.

Though there is a certain rough justice in the notion that when people hurt us, we hurt them back, and though getting even can give us a momentary feeling of elation, bitterness and the longing to get even ultimately cripples us physically and mentally. An ancient proverb says “If you are plotting revenge, you had better dig two graves, one for your victim, and one for yourself.” No wonder Jesus wanted us to get the deadly grudge virus out of our systems. No wonder he taught us to pray, “Forgive us as we forgive.”

For me Christianity is first and foremost, not a set of theological doctrines, but a way of living. The early followers of Jesus were first known not as Christians, but as ‘followers of the way’. What a lot they learned by faithfully following Christ’s way, by sharing and caring, by giving and forgiving.

In so many aspects of life, belief follows experience. Most of us did not begin our courting with an elaborate set of beliefs about the one with whom we had fallen in love. We thought rather: “I would like to journey with that person.” Convictions about another, grow out of the companionship, grow out of giving oneself to the other. It is little different with the Christian faith.

In an article written by Albert Schweitzer, one of the great saints of the 20th century, he said: “Open your eyes and seek another human being in need of a little time, a little friendliness, a little company, a little work, or seek a good cause that needs voluntary workers, and your own humanity will be enriched.” How true that is.

Dr Simpson’s serious/humorous books are published by Steve Savage Publishers Ltd.