Saint George’s Church, Barbourne, Worcester.

Thursday 27 August 2009

Jason Williams R.I.P.

I preside at many funerals.  It’s a part of what I do as a parish priest.  To celebrate the life of someone who has died full of years is a good thing to do.  It’s a fitting end to someone’s life to bring them back to the church where they were baptized and married, and to the place where their children were baptized and married.  That feels so right, and even today it is an important part of the life of the community around our church here in Barbourne. 

But this is a funeral with a difference.  Jason was 23, and he died at an age when many young men are only just beginning to think about life.  He died on active service. And now we have to face the reality of his death. 

We can call this death tragic.  Jason had found somewhere he felt happy and fulfilled.  He was beginning to think that the Army might be his future.  Now he has no future here on earth.  Tragic – yes. 

We can say he died before his time.  Next week I shall be officiating at the funeral of someone who died aged 99, and that is by no means unusual these days.  Jason was far too young - yes.

We can say he died doing his duty – doing what soldiers do – going back to make sure that the body of a fallen soldier was not left behind.  Duty – yes – a word we don’t often hear these days.

And here we are in tears, mourning and weeping and looking for comfort.  And perhaps you are looking to me to say comforting words.  I can talk about the Christian hope for the future, that this life is not the end, that everything happens for a purpose even though we may be a very long way from understanding it.  But somehow on a day like this I don’t think many of you will be convinced.

But you are looking for comfort and so am I. Where can we find it?

I can give you three suggestions:

Firstly, do not forget Jason.  The various statements posted on the internet confidently declare ‘He will never be forgotten,’ and ‘He will be forever in our hearts.’  But if that is just a memory then I would suggest that is not enough.  Jason was only with us for 23 years, but in that time he made an impression on all those who met him.  Cheerful, friendly, a beaming smile, enthusiasm, able to encourage others – all those are words which occur in the same sentence as Jason Williams.  Some of you will know his motto, and some have it as a tattoo:

‘A man is not finished when he is defeated.  A man is finished when he quits.’

Remember him - yes, but remember to follow his example.

Secondly, say ‘Thank you’.  God gave Jason to this world, so firstly thank God for that.  Jason gave a great deal in his life.  I have no doubt there are some – maybe many – listening to these words who find themselves grateful for having known Jason.  And maybe, just maybe, there might have been an occasion when you ought to have said ‘Thank you’ to him, but didn’t – for whatever reason.  It’s not too late.  Say it now, in the silence of your hearts.

And thirdly, support each other.  A death like this is severely testing – you don’t need me to tell you that.  Tomorrow the world will move on to the next item of news.  But you, all of you who know Jason, will have a special task to do.  Talk to each other often about Jason, share memories, tell stories about him, laugh as well as cry.  Make sure that he is there in your hearts and minds – and as I said earlier – remember all that was good in his life.  Remember to talk to Linda and the family, and remember too other grieving families who have lost their young men in Afghanistan.  There is a special bond which joins such families together, a shared sense of loss and a shared pride in these young men who died doing their duty.

In a moment we will have a time of prayer when we will remember Jason before God and commend him to God’s safe keeping.  It is also an opportunity to place Linda and the family in God’s careful and caring arms.  We believe God is like a loving Father who cares for us immensely, and loves us far more than we love ourselves.  Pray that Jason’s family will feel that care and that love, and feel supported and cherished in dark days.  And pray for yourself that you may hold on to good memories and remember Jason with gratitude.

And above all – don’t quit.  Don’t stop remembering; don’t stop saying ‘Thank you’; don’t stop supporting each other. You may be defeated by what life can throw at you, but you won’t be finished.

Father Ian Pearson

Parish Priest.