Page 10 - The Plain Truth Spring-Summer 2026

better. In Latin America, there is A second opportunity
a rich tradition of also identifying When a few years later another much-loved friend,
our suffering with that of Jesus David my mentor from drama school, was diagnosed with
and taking comfort and strength a terminal condition, I had no intention of making the same
in doing so. The original meaning mistake twice. I quietly carved a weekly space in my diary to
of Christian from the Greek visit and make the most of every minute we had. I wanted
christianos is ‘little Christs’, so no regrets this time. I knew the loss and grief would be
the understanding of the Latin even more intense but I also knew that was a price worth
American church follows in an paying. If death and grief are to make a difference in our
ancient tradition that not only lives, to bring a little kind of resurrection, surely this is one
talks of death but also resurrection. way that it is possible: to learn to do things differently, to
St Oscar Romero, when he was immerse yourself in all that there is in life, this world, and
Archbishop of San Salvador cherished relationships and not to miss a moment. !
declared that, if he were killed, he would be resurrected in
his people. When he was assassinated, it was a watershed
moment in which the people did indeed stand back up (the *'#8; z $; /#4; 1.+8'4
literal meaning of resurrection), some paid for this courage
with their own lives. There is certainly nothing like a close That time
encounter with death, your own or someone else’s, to make I thought I could not
you feel alive in a raw and visceral way. What we decide to go any closer to grief
do with these experiences can make a difference to lives – without dying
our own and those around us. I went closer,
Some years ago, a very dear friend was dying in hospital
in Manchester. I hadn’t seen him for a few months while and I did not die.
Surely God
he had various treatments that made him vulnerable to had his hand in this,
infection. I tried and failed a few times to make a window
in my diary to travel to visit but every time I did, something as well as friends.
important came up in the parishes and my visit was delayed. Still, I was bent,
Finally, determined to get there, I fought my way and my laughter,
through what felt like an assault course of the needy, as the poet said,
throwing obstacles in my way and made it to his hospital was nowhere to be found.
bedside. Chris was a Roman Catholic priest and we had Then said my friend Daniel,
shared ministry on many occasions over the years. We had (brave even among lions),
been talking for a short while when the chaplain arrived “It’s not the weight you carry
and Chris introduced me as ‘Eva, my friend who’s an
Anglican priest’. but how you carry it –
The chaplain had come with communion and I asked books, bricks, grief –
whether I should leave them but they both protested that it’s all in the way
I should stay. I joined in the prayers with them and then, you embrace it, balance it, carry it
in an act of such compassion and inclusion, the chaplain
offered me communion. when you cannot, and would not,
He’d broken the rules of his church to give me such put it down.”
a precious chance: the last time I saw my much-loved friend So I went practicing.
we made communion together. I will forever be grateful to Have you noticed?
that chaplain for his thoughtful care.
Have you heard
the laughter
that comes, now and again,
out of my startled mouth?
How I linger
to admire, admire, admire
the things of this world
that are kind, and maybe

also troubled –
roses in the wind,
the sea geese on the steep waves,
a love
to which there is no reply?

10 The Plain Truth Spring-Summer 2026 Find us online at www.plain-truth.org.uk