Date: May 24, 2023
I had next week planned. It was to be a vacation week. I was hoping to spend some time with Lesley; we had some dinner parties planned with friends; and Maddie (our dog) was anticipating lots of walks.
Then a friend of mine died. We were friends from King’s College London. We were both involved in student politics; and we both majored in Theology. We had stayed in touch over the years. We had much in common. Five years ago, he had called me up. He explained that he was very unwell and that he would love me to preach at his funeral. I responded that I cannot promise that necessarily, but I did promise that if that scenario did indeed unfold then I would do everything I could to be present at the funeral.
My plans for my vacation week have changed. I will fly to London on Memorial Day. I will be the officiant at the funeral. With every plan, always add an asterisk. Make sure one marks it “subject to the complexities of living and life.”
The Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, Ph.D.
Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary and the President of The General Theological Seminary