Our papers this week were filled with the death of George Harrison. There were the usual comments about the end of an era and his influence upon the history of Western music. There will be the obligatory re-release for ‘charity’. It is all predictable and depressing. I am a Beatles fan. I probably know the words of every single song and I even have a couple of Harrison’s solo albums. Yet I cannot join in the minutes silence, or the general style of mourning associated with Harrison’s death. Every one said that he was the most ‘spiritual’ of all the Beatles, being famously involved with the Maharashi Mahesh Yogi and generally being regarded as Britain’s most famous Hindu. At the risk of running foul of Britain’s proposed new anti-religious hate laws let me suggest that Harrison’s Hinduism is not a cause for thankfulness or rejoicing but rather for sadness and mourning. As the bible states ‘the gods of the nations are dumb idols’. Chanting, worshipping idols, indulging in mystic philosophy may help someone get ‘inner peace’ but what if it is a false peace? What if it is based on a lie? What if Harrison with all his singing of ‘ my sweet Lord’ never found the Lord of Lords and the King of the Universe? What if his espousal of Hinduism has been responsible for many others following the paths of a deceptive religion and of not finding ‘the way, the truth and the life’?

And then there was Tommy Gallacher. Who? Tommy was a famous Dundee FC footballer from the 1950’s. He died last week and as part of my duties as club chaplain I attended the funeral. It was the first Catholic funeral I have attended for many years. In many ways it was profoundly moving. It was personal, reverent and with a nice balance of focus upon Christ and remembrance of the deceased. Mr Gallacher’s sons speech was moving and very fitting for the occasion. But again there was a profound sadness in the service, other than the normal sorrow associated with death. It was not just the aspect of the mass – does anyone really believe that when that bell is rung the wafer actually turns into Jesus? It was also the universalistic impression given that no matter what, everyone is saved. I realize that that is not official catholic theology but it is what many people believe – which leaves the whole question of why anyone should actually bother following Christ? He’s going to save us anyway. I came away from this funeral with a profound sense of the lostness of mankind and how a watered down gospel is really no answer to that lostness.

On Tuesday of this week I was amazed to read an obituary of Megan Boyd. I doubt if anyone reading this will know who Megan is (unless Prince Charles is a regular reader). I knew Megan when I was the minister in Brora. She was a quiet person, faithful in church and seemed to be ‘just’ part of the fabric of the local community. So why did the death of this 86 year old woman result in a quarter page obituary in the Scotsman? Because Megan was one of the world experts in one of the most difficult skills of all – the art of fly tying. Megan, who never fished, was the expert on fly tying. She knew what to tie, how to tie and what particular fly should be used. As a result anyone who came fishing in Sutherland would pop in to see Megan Boyd. Only last year Prince Charles came in for a discussion on the Popham, one of Megan’s favourite flies. One other amazing fact about her life is that she continued to fly tie even when she became almost blind!

Finally there was the most tragic death of all. Last Friday we were sitting with friends in our living room waiting to have a meal when the phone rang. It was bad news. The 41 year old brother of one of our friends had just dropped dead in front of his wife. There had been no indication of serious illness, the man was fit and healthy and yet suddenly his children are fatherless and his wife a widow. No matter how often it happens death is always horrendous and unnatural.

Death, sadness, orphans, false religion and the passing of people who were ‘good’ people and stalwarts of their community. Is there no good news? Yes there is. This week I had the privilege of attending St Cyrus primary school near Montrose. I had been asked to teach each of the classes the ‘meaning of Christmas’ and to listen to them practice their carols. There was one song they sang which amazed me. It was not the sugary sweet carol so beloved of many modern songsheets. Written by a Church of Scotland elder, Iain Whyte, it is well crafted, excellent tune and has meaningful content in the words. I was encouraged that each child had learned the words by heart and that this was taking place in a state school where the vast majority of children do not regularly attend church. What an opportunity we have in our country! There are so many lost people. There is so much false religion. There is so much sorrow and sadness. The days are evil and so we must make the most of every opportunity to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ. We need more songwriters, poets, artists, teachers and people of many different skills and crafts to use their talents to bring the gospel. And we need more preachers to equip these gifted people with that gospel. Our last great enemy is death – but for the Christian it is a defeated enemy. Which is why the best thing we can do for anyone, to help them prepare for that day, is to bring them to Christ and to bring Christ to them. I leave you with the words of Mr Whyte’s ‘Song of Christmas’.

Sing me a Song of Christmas

Sing me a song of Christmas,

Sing of a virgin birth,

Sing of a miracle of a God

Coming down to earth.

Sing of a child in a manager

And of oxen standing by,

Of shepherds and of kings

And of angels in the sky.

Chorus: How many flowers grow now

On that blazing, desert hill?

How many seeds are scattered on the wind?

As we sing our songs of Christmas,

Can we hold our heads up high?

Or, is what we say and do a sweet romantic lie?

Tell me an ancient story,

Tell me of Bethlehem,

High on a hill for all to see,

Yet secret and unseen,

Tell me of a stable

Where a mystery unfolds,

Tell me of my history,

Whose story lies untold.

Chorus

Speak of a child and a saviour

Speak of a time to come,

Of peace, goodwill to all the world,

When the victory is won.

Speak to me in silence

As the world thunders on

Speak and make me listen to your song.

Chorus

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