LETTERS

Royal Memories

How did ‘The Duke (of Edinburgh)’ (may he rest in peace) impinge on the life of an ordinary Scottish manse? In the case of our particular menage I can say he did so in three ways.

Soon after my Dad’s call to New Kilpatrick Church in Bearsden we entertained Sir John Hunt (of Everest fame). Sir John had come up to Glasgow to promote the brand new Duke of Edinburgh scheme and our home, it appears, was chosen as a suitable place for him to hang his hat. He was a very agreeable guest.

Not long after that I realised that Mum was getting into the way of gently teasing Dad with a pretended affection for the Duke himself.

Last but not least, and after a move to St Columba’s in London, Dad was summoned to Balmoral to preach at the Sunday service at Crathie Church. As was the gracious custom Dad was invited to spend the weekend with the Royal Family. Dad, of course, was happy to regale us all on his return with a blow-by-blow account of how the stay went. Notable (in relation to the Duke) was a deep conversation they had had on the subject of the Trinity. We gathered that they had not entirely seen eye to eye on this.

However, given that both these distinguished gentlemen (the Duke and Dad) have now gone on to ‘higher service’ we may assume that they are now both fully posted on the precise nature of the Godhead! 

Andrew McLuskey (Rev), Ashford, Middlesex

The Evolution Debate

Many thanks to Guy Douglas (April 2021) for introducing Rupert Sheldrake into this debate. Sheldrake in his book The Science Delusion deals with many topics such as purpose in nature, are minds confined to brains, consciousness of matter, the nature of consciousness and memory using the methods of science to challenge established scientific authority.

He opens up a new spirit of enquiry which encourages dialogue between religion and science and makes science accessible to everyone.

In the letters written to Life and Work, there are those who find God present in evolution and those who see evolution only as a mechanism without God.

We are divided.

Perhaps we have all missed a fundamental truth and Sheldrake’s approach can give us courage to face this.

We can be helped if we think of paradox, in which two seemingly opposing issues can be seen reconciled as one.

One famous paradox is encountered in physics when we think of light as consisting both of particles and waves.

The majestic example of a paradox of immense importance to all of us comes gloriously and shouts at us at Easter. It is that the presence of God is found in each unique person but is also found in all parts of the universe.

Cartoon: Bill McArthur

The love, compassion and forgiveness of Jesus is found in the human warmth of each living person but can also be felt from His own person. This is a result of the Resurrection. He is with us until the very end of the age (Matthew 28:20).

This paradox of the smallness and immensity of God and of Jesus and His love is at the root of our discussions about evolution.

The presence of God can be found in evolution in each small step and action, in all things (Teilhard de Chardin) and in each human (Jeremiah 31:31-34). He is also present overwhelmingly in the universe as the Psalms 139, 148 describe so powerfully. The love of Jesus is present in each scientific discovery and is also found in all love between humans and even more widely in their love of God.

If we can understand this fundamental paradox we can avoid the heartache and anxiety about the survival of God in an age of evolution and discover love and joy in all our deliberations and worship and in scientific research too! We can see and feel that religion and science can grow together and entwined.

John Kusel, Cumbernauld

Industrial Plea

At one time there were between eight and a hundred ministers regularly visiting industrial companies in their areas. There were also a few full time chaplains, employed by the then Home Board.

This brought them into regular contact with men who were largely outwith the influence of the Church. Many of them were grateful for the help they received, and the Employee Counselling Service dealt with around thirteen thousand men every year.

This is a sphere of mission and service which I believe should be considered reviving.

Donald Ross, Glasgow

Hospital Chaplaincy ‘Special Calling’

The present Covid-19 pandemic has naturally focused our attention on health and the stresses the virus has placed on the NHS. The NHS, established in 1948, is surely a wonderful blend of science, technology and personal care born out of a compassionate response to heal or ameliorate illness. Though for most people the physical and mental aspects most readily come to mind, health can also be acknowledged as being about body, mind and spirit.

Hospital chaplains know the importance of spiritual care to health and wellbeing.

At Ninewells Hospital in Dundee there is a department of Spiritual Care and Wellbeing with a team of chaplains who support person-centred care built on their understanding that “spiritual care is part of the holistic care of people” and that, “caring and compassion are the focus of spiritual wellbeing”.

I have discovered this personally while receiving treatment at Ninewells and I am so grateful for the support that chaplains give. While the support focuses on spiritual care it is also thoroughly pragmatic and down-to-earth to aid patients, some of whom face a life changing or life ending diagnosis or treatment of serious injuries due to accident. Chaplains listen to life-stories, talk with and pray (by request) with patients, their families and the bereaved, as they share in the patient’s journey wherever that leads.

I will never forget the words of a chaplain on a first visit to me in the oncology day-care unit when he said “with regards to faith this is where the rubber hits the road” a neat phrase which put in a nutshell my feelings and combined with his advice to draw nearer to God, was just the encouragement I needed.

Hospital chaplaincy is a special calling and from personal experience I thank them for drawing alongside those in need of spiritual care at times of ill health, crisis or profound life changes by giving a sense of meaning to a new chapter in people’s lives.

Bill Clark, Arbroath