LETTER: Make a difference during our lives

- Mary Oliver

Last week, even those who wanted to avoid the subject of death may have had trouble doing so; in the midst of ‘Dying Matters’ week, designed to raise awareness of the importance of planning for death, we learned of the death of 301 miners in Turkey, and that of 19 year old Stephen Sutton.

For many of us, death sneaks up on us, but Stephen knew that his life was going to be foreshortened, and was determined to make the most of it. Stating that he didn’t see the point of measuring life in terms of time, but rather ‘in terms of making a difference’, Stephen not only fulfilled his own ‘bucket list’ of desires, but also raised more than £3.5m for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Scripture teaches that there is wisdom in numbering our days, and Mary Oliver asks us:

Tell me, what is it you plan to do With your one wild and precious life?

The Rev LISA RAINIER

Trafalgar Road Baptist Church, Horsham