Dame Vera Lynn

St Ephrem. Thursday 18th June, 2020.

The first thing to penetrate my consciousness this morning was the announcement of the death of Dame Vera Lynn aged 103. Since then the radio has been filled with the news and already programmes about her life are being broadcast. No doubt television will be following the radio and then the newspapers. Meanwhile I am sure Twitter and cyberspace are full of comment. I have had a few emails mentioning it also. A national figure, a national reaction. Her most memorable song was 'We'll meet again'. As she noted herself her purpose was to bring love and hope. Certainly that song does fill me with hope. It has an essential human spirit riding through it, a spirit that is tangible in her fervour, a spirit of being together. It is a spirit one is privileged to see off and on yet is always available to be tapped.

I have been sent ' The Salt Path' for my birthday. There too one touches that human spirit and it is infectious. As also was the last book I read ' the Tattooist of Auschwitz' wherein human resilience and hope and love were recorded. Life enhancing hellishness: an extraordinary combination.

I reiterate RICHARD Crashaw's words:

" Dear Hope! Earth's dowry and Heaven's debt,

The entity of things that are not yet.

Subtlest but surest being! Thou by whom

Our nothing hath a definition"

And again

" Fair Hope! our earlier Heaven! By thee

Young Time is taster to Eternity.

The generous wine with age grows strong, not sour,

Nor need we kill thy fruit to smell the flower".

Following soon after I heard the news of Vera Lynn's death came an email quoting St Therese of Lisieux: " I will spend my Heaven doing good on Earth". This added to my hope, for faith supports and is conjoined with hope.

Then in to my mind came St Thomas More's oft quoted phrase: " until we meet merrily in heaven".

In the darkest moment Vera Lynn lifted spirits. St Therese promises to be ever helping. St Thomas has a certainty of God's Love.

We will meet again although we know not where nor when.

So do not let your hearts be troubled.