HAVE you heard the trend to give “trigger warnings” prior to a book, play, film or news item? Sometimes with good reason “the following article may cause distress”… to the eye roll of my family I often add, “If it doesn’t cause distress there is something wrong with you”. The news is violent, shocking, lamentable, real and it’s increasingly said truth is stranger than fiction…

So, I’m adding in a trigger warning if you have read this far. People often say to me, “We’re all getting older”… to which I usually respond, “I know; aren’t we fortunate!”. The day we stop getting older, someone will be planning a funeral and there is plenty of commercial advice on that as well!

I may be getting morbid. What I really wanted to ask is how do we live? How do we choose to spend our time and cash… keeping busy, making memories, volunteering, praying; or rather like this article do we berate the world like Victor Meldrew or Ena Sharples (showing my age)?

Life is for living. I have visited hospice rooms filled with laughter; care homes where, between winces of pain, a joke lifts mood and builds friendship. Yes, “time like an ever-rolling stream bears all its sons (and daughters) away”, but what does that dash between two dates get filled with? What true legacy of memories, wisdom, fun, gracious sharing of time are we preparing to leave behind?

As a Christian, I do firmly believe in a renewed life to come, “Pie in the sky”… I also believe in life before death and “steak on a plate while we wait”.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, noble, right, whatever is pure, lovely and admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things” And live. Amen?

The Rev Paul Benney

Superintendent minister, St Austell Methodist Circuit