A few days ago, a friend of mine died. We had known each other for thirty years but it would be wrong to say that we were close friends. However, I enjoyed his company whenever we met. He had an impish sense of humour, he did not take himself seriously and he knew how to tell a brilliant story; I always felt better for meeting him. I knew he was ill with a life-limiting condition; at the end, events moved quicker than I imagined they would but I am sure this was for the best. I am of course a vicar; whilst I cannot truthfully say that I bury people for a living, I do see a lot of death, so perhaps it might be expected I would be used to it. But I found myself grieving for my friend more deeply than I expected; neither experience nor faith can grief-proof you. I am actually glad of this; in the Old Testament, the prophet Ezekiel talks about the importance of having a heart of flesh, not of stone. Without that, we lose a precious part of our humanity. Grief, in proportion, is good.
Rev David Poyner