Christian Comment with Revd. Alisdair Longwill

IT WAS Thomas Carlyle who wrote: ‘The man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder - waif, a nothing, a no man. Have a purpose in life, and, having it, throw such strength of mind and muscle into your work as God has given you.’

If you read this newspaper two weeks ago, you’ll no doubt have noticed the recent passing of a colleague of mine, Revd. Anne Dunn, who was minister of Stonehouse Baptist Church.

As a young person, Anne had experienced the liberating love of God for herself and experienced a deeper meaning and purpose in life in following Jesus.

The result of this was that she wanted other people to have the opportunity of experiencing that same liberating love of God and sense of purpose.

And so, having served as a volunteer in church throughout her life, decided in her fifties to train as a Christian minister, so that she might be better equipped to serve God and others and share the good news message of God’s unfailing love for people like you and me.

Anne was an energetic, inspiring and visionary leader.

She made her mark on the congregation of Stonehouse Baptist Church and in the wider community of Stonehouse.

She leaves a legacy of influence upon the lives of others.

As I reflect on Anne’s life, she most definitely had a sense of purpose, and to use Thomas Carlyle’s words ‘threw strength of mind and muscle into her work’.

It leads me to ask myself, what kind of legacy will I leave on our world?

What difference, if any, will I make?

Will my life be assessed by others and more importantly by God, as being purposeful or as being like a ship without a rudder?

Can you think of someone you respect or have loved who has recently died?

What positive affect has their death had on you?

What impact have you allowed their passing to have on you – that your life in time might also make an impact on the lives of others?