Hope beyond death

This article was originally published in the October editions of the Plymouth Chronicle.

I have the privilege of presenting a radio show on Cross Rhythms Plymouth called Life Stories.
In it I get the opportunity to interview people from various different walks of life about their lives,
the ups and the downs and how they have become the person they are now.

Often this type of interview programme is reserved in the media for celebrities but I find the people I
interview, though not famous themselves, have just as interesting stories to tell.

Recently I did one which has particularly stayed with me. I interviewed a local lady called Emma
Marlow who wanted to share something quite different to the usual Life Stories interviews.

Her interview was focused on the immense difficulty her family had gone through in recent years
following her son’s cancer diagnosis. She spoke openly and honestly about how they were informed
of this heartbreaking news by a consultant and the subsequent 7 year journey they would all go on
as he battled the cancer.

It was a journey which would result in the most devastating of outcomes, the death of her son at a
very young age.

Talking about death is still taboo

As a new Dad myself I couldn’t immediately understand why Emma was wanting to share this story
so publicly. When I asked her that question she simply said it was a way for her to bring her son into
today. Not only that but she wanted to do the interview because her Christian faith had been a real
help to her throughout the entire dark chapter. She wanted to share how Jesus was present with her
and her family through it all and share something of the hope she has, even in the face of her son’s
untimely death.

The articles I write in the Plymouth Chronicle always reflect something of the importance of my faith
and how it impacts my life and I believe the lives of us all in society at large. In the past I’ve discussed
caring for those less fortunate than ourselves, being thankful for the good in my life, looking after
the planet and a whole host of other subjects.
I don’t believe I have ever written about death however.

Given it is a guarantee for all of us, it is odd how little we talk about death and dying. Other cultures
may well have a more open dialogue about the subject but certainly in the UK the topic is almost
taboo.

Emma’s reason for sharing her story is to give hope to those how hear it

In many ways this is understandable. It is a deeply painful subject. In some ways probably the most
painful. Losing a friend or loved one hurts so much it can be almost unbearable. It is even said that
death is ultimately the basis of anything we fear.

Death just feels wrong. Particularly in a situation like Emma’s where a disease caused the death of
her child long before his time. Yet in the face of this most egregious situation Emma was able to find
a real hope.

The Christian faith offers a real hope

Christianity has much to say about all manner of subjects to do with our lives. In short, that love
should be our prime motivator towards God, ourselves, those around us and the world at large. It
also brings a very tangible hope into the pit of darkness that is death.
Indeed a major narrative in the faith is that death actually is wrong. That it is an intruder in our lives
which Jesus Christ has overthrown. It is the result of a world which is fallen and not as it was designed to be. The promise of the Christian faith is that whoever trusts in Jesus will have eternal
life.

I’m not going to convince you of the truth of that statement. Even in my life it is one which takes
faith, rather than absolute certainty, to grasp hold of.

What I will do though is encourage you to listen to the Life Stories interview with Emma Marlow. She
shared far better than I ever can, from personal experience, how this promise continues to give her
and her family real hope about where her son is now and the expectation that they will be reunited
one day.

Her son trusted in this promise for himself and Emma remarked on the incredible peace he had in
facing the final days of his young life.

Emma’s reason for sharing her story is to give hope to those who hear it that this promise is for
anyone.

As well as listening to the interview via our listen again pages you can watch it
on the Cross Rhythms Plymouth YouTube channel or below.