Rev'd Canon Gary Griffith-Smith shares a reflection originally penned for the November edition of Hokonui Harvest (the newsletter of the Anglican Parish of Gore and Districts) on his recent health journey...

One of my favourite verses in the Bible is found in James 4:14: "What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."

I have often quoted this at funeral services to emphasise that what really matters is not the length of life, but rather what one does with that time called life.

It is something I have been reflecting on a lot since being diagnosed with a brain tumour. This has been  and continues to be a roller coaster. I have not dwelt on the question "why me", but rather "what is life?"

The words of Jesus recorded in John 10 keep coming back to me: "The thief comes only to kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

I have been a Christian for almost 30 years. Have I lived the abundant life that Jesus promised? Sometimes, but I have also allowed the thief to erode my quality of life. Who is to blame for a lack of abundant life? I am! Not Jesus or life's circumstances. Jesus has promised to be with us "always, till the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:20).

This crazy, unsettling time in my life is also a time of great blessing and learning. I have met and continue to meet the most amazing people on the journey. Health professionals and volunteers who really are a holy presence. 

I have always thought of angels as being named Gabriel, Michael, Raphael etc., as listed in the Bible, but I have met angels named Cam, Jazz, Rebecca, Maree, Caleb, Linda, Robert and so on. They don't have wings, but they do have titles such as Nurse, OT, Physio, Dr, Volunteer etc. and they are the presence of holiness, whispering words of comfort and encouragement, holding one's hand to allay fear, always smiling, always willing to help no matter what hour of day or night. It is through them that the abundant life and presence of Jesus is made manifest in our lives. 

I watch the news a lot. I have always been interested in what happens in the world. The downside is that bad news sells so I have found myself being tricked into thinking that there is almost no good left in the world and sometimes even pray that Jesus will come, put an end to the suffering and injustice and start again. But, of course, I only see a tiny part of the picture whereas God sees it all. It has taken a major health scare to to open my eyes to how many wonderful people there are doing fantastic work in our world. God sees everything and believes that it is worth saving and continues to pour out grace on our world without fear or favour: "He causes his sun to shine on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous" (Matthew 5:45). God looks at the world, sees everything and everyone and still believes that it is worth saving and loving. How can we think differently??

Jesus spent a lot of time affirming people and restoring them to the community. Community and belonging are essential to living an abundant life. How blessed we are to be part of this church community, as well as our wider (Gore) community. The support that I and my family are receiving from the Parish, the Bishop, the Diocese, Gore RSA, St John's Patient Shuttle, District Nurses and the wider community certainly enables us to live an abundant life in the middle of a crisis. Which is the important lesson for us - it is Jesus and not circumstances which determine abundant life. We must remember that it is not who, but whose we are that ultimately matters.

I am so excited for Christmas this year. I plan to wrap my arms tightly around the celebration of this new life that has brought abundant life to all of us. I pray that whatever your plans are that you will be in the presence of Jesus and that you look for an abundant celebration and not activity, because He has come that you may have life and have it abundantly.

Bless you

Gary. 

Postscript: Gary writes (on 2 December): "I saw the surgeon yesterday and he is very happy with my progress. Unless something flares up, I do not need to see him again. Praise God!!!

Please continue to hold Gary, Debbie and the family as well as the Gore Parish in your prayers.