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Prayer for Liverpool

Our Fathers - Reflection by Canon Bob

24/6/2020

1 Comment

 
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It is an obvious truth that each one of us has a different relationship with our Father. I am aware that some of you reading this will have experienced enormously painful experiences and do not wish to reawaken long dealt with memories. Others, especially given present circumstances, will be feeling the sharp pain of bereavement and our hearts go out to all of those in mourning. Others, like me will have benefitted from a close and loving relationship.

My dad was born in 1919 which meant that he had barely left school before being called up at the beginning of the Second World War. He served as a Captain in the Artillery in the Indian Army in Burma. I can’t begin to understand how those years must have affected him but I suspect his lifelong enjoyment of whiskey and water may have had its origins in the jungle. Another consequence was the cementing of a bond of friendship with a group of ex school friends for the rest of his life. They all played cricket at the same club and watched rugby together at Waterloo. They were all Free Masons at the same Lodge and met up most lunchtimes at a variety of ‘Gentlemen’s Clubs’ in town. Dad was as reluctant to talk about his memories of the war as he was about his faith. However if asked he would confidently declare ‘Church of England’. I sometimes think that the Church of England have left people like my dad behind.

Dad taught me a love of sport and ingrained in me a sense of right and wrong and the need to look out for others. At his funeral the general sentiment was that ‘He was a gentleman’ and I think he would have approved of that. Of course we did not always agree; the first swear word I ever heard him utter was directed at the television during a party political broadcast by Harold Wilson!

I found it really hard to watch him grow old and diminish and writing this brings back feelings of gratitude, love, mixed with regret. At the end of the day, however if my children remember me with the affection I have for my dad I shall be satisfied.
 
Canon Bob

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Why not prepare for next Sunday's worship? Our preparation sheet for adults and for children can be accessed by clicking on the Resources tab of this website: https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html.

1 Comment
Madeleine Price
24/6/2020 10:19:19 am

Hi Canon Bob,

Thank you for a lovely reflection...

My own Dad was born in 1921 and was just (literally by 4 four days!) 18 when WWII was declared. He served with the Royal Engineers and, after training at Woolwich Military Academy, was sent to the middle east. He spent around 5 years in Iran, Iraq, Syria and Jordan. His leave was spent in Cairo.

I too, was privileged to love my Dad very much and he loved "us girls" (Mum, my sister Lucy and myself) in return. His sport was horses...we used to attend horse racing meetings along with my Auntie Edie and Uncle Tom! I was even allowed a bet (I know!) as long it was my own pocket money! I still love racing to this day. I cared for him in his old age...he just missed 90. From my nursing I realise that some folks have a truly traumatic time in their childhoods. He was scattered along with my Mum, underneath the flowering cherry by the pond where they lived.

I just wanted to say thank you (again!) for all the hard work The Chapter gave put into the Daily Reflections...I have learnt so much about you all: from Cricket to Steam Trains to doggo pals to Teddy Bear fans to shopping habits and so on... I may have picked-up some spiritual insight along the way too. I have also appreciated the YouTube video services. Thank you.

Every blessing

Madeleine (Price : I normally attend the Sunday am Choral Eucharist)

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