Well done, your majesty

 

BREAKING NEWS: It has come to my attention that all McDonalds in the UK will be closed on Monday until 5 pm, in honor of the Queen’s funeral. I think this is a Big MacSteak! What about all the Scottish folk who were counting on an Egg McMuffin for breakfast!?

And now back to my irregular blog...

Dear Friends

How can people not think of Queen Elizabeth II, when they hear the opening verse of this Sunday’s second lesson:

"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity." (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

In the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, people pray that under the monarch, “we may be godly and quietly governed.”

This leads me to these words from an Op-ed in last Sunday’s LA Times, titled “Her Majesty was a pretty nice queen without a lot to say”:

“In an age when everyone has an opinion---when everyone in public life feels an urge to tell all about their grumbles and gripes and grievances, she never did. That is exactly why she---and the monarchy---became a stabilizing factor in a time of upheaval…Perhaps the late queen’s lasting lesson is that we still need the illusion of steady leaders onto which we can project our own complicated feelings.”

Like you, I certainly have my convictions and opinions, but try to share only the most important ones, at appropriate times and in appropriate ways. Perhaps we can remember that under the crown and all the other trappings of the monarchy, (see picture above), Elizabeth had a secret power. She didn’t have to comment on everything! As a world leader for 70 years, through more changes and challenges than we can imagine, she remained steady and calm and collected, first and foremost a beloved wife, mother, grandmother and child of God, who lived and led, to quote 1 Timothy again, “a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity.” 

After all the majestic fuss and beautiful traditions and liturgies are over on Monday, she will surely and finally get to rest in peace.

John

P.S. And speaking of keeping calm, and carrying on, here is a timely prayer: