The news on Friday lunchtime that HRH Prince Philip had died peacefully at home came as a shock to us all.  Even though he had lived to the remarkable age of 99, and had been in hospital for a protracted stay during February and March, he had seemed such an indomitable and steadfast character that it was difficult to imagine a time when he would no longer be with us.  More importantly, how sad it is that he is no longer there for the Queen after 73 years of marriage!  He had many of the same qualities which Captain Sir Tom Moore had demonstrated, and it was surely no coincidence that both these men had seen active service in the Second World War.  This experience seemed to invest veterans with the acknowledgement that they were the lucky ones to survive, when many of their counterparts hadn’t.  They also both understood the nature of service to others, and both were committed to improving the world for their fellow human beings, raising awareness of people in need and related charitable causes.

 There was an additional sadness that Prince Philip was only a few weeks short of his 100^th birthday, whereas Sir Tom made it to his centenary, but in both cases one can’t help but reflect on 100 years of change which had taken place throughout their long lives.  It’s difficult to imagine that any century has seen bigger transformation than the last one with all its changes in world politics, society, medicine, education, digitalisation, the environment and travel.  Generally speaking, the world has moved to a more egalitarian and tolerant place, although there are notable and worrying exceptions to these advances, both within our own society and in tensions across the globe.

In the past year of pandemic, we have had to come face to face with the reality that we each have only a finite time on this earth, however we choose to use it.  The Biblical allotted lifespan of three score years and ten comes from a reference in Psalm 90: “The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” (verse 10)

At the time when this Psalm was written, it would have been a major achievement for anyone to reach the age of 70: more than that was truly remarkable.  In the past century with advances in medicine and the general standard of living, 70 is now considered anything but old in Western society, although there are still shocking inequalities of health care and life expectancy in other parts of the world. But the vast death toll of Coronavirus has reminded us once again that we are vulnerable to disease and death – not everything can be cured by science.

Psalm 90 reminds us that time is outside human control.  A thousand years in God’s sight is like a single day, and although we each live in our own generation, those years pass quickly by, whereas God exists for eternity.  As we reflect on the remarkable lifetimes of many of our own relatives and friends who have achieved so much and left the world a better place after their largely unsung service to others, this is a good time to remember them all with love and thanksgiving.  May each and every one of them rest in peace and rise in glory!

Sarah Bourne, Chaplain for the Arts – 14^th April 2021          sarahbourne@banburystmary.org.uk