It’s strange how things sometimes fall. Yesterday morning I was writing about Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s confidence in the face of death and by mid-afternoon I was hearing about the death of my pal May Nicholson. She had been in indifferent health for a while following a recurrence of the cancer she had to deal with some years ago. She was admitted to hospital last week with an infection and yesterday afternoon surrounded by her family she peacefully passed into the presence of the Lord in whom she placed her trust for this life and the next.
May was the co-founder of the Preshal Trust in Govan. ‘Preshal’ is the Gaelic word for ‘precious’ and the aim of the Trust is to lead everyone who comes through its doors to feel that they are precious in the eyes of God. As it says on the website:
‘In a friendly, caring, loving and supportive way Preshal seeks to tackle, head-on, the problem of social exclusion in the Linthouse area of Glasgow. This problem is manifested in poverty, alcohol and drug addiction, low literacy and numeracy levels, depression and low self-esteem.’
May herself knew what it was like to be on the margins having experienced alcohol addiction along with its many associated problems. She was able therefore to bring such empathy to her work at Preshal that the troubled were convinced that she was on their side. Not that she ever wanted anyone to think that she herself was the answer to their problems. Her profound personal encounter with the Risen Lord and the renewing power of His Spirit had turned her life around completely and it was to Him that she directed all those going through their worst of times.
My first contact with May was when she and Catherine Graham, Duchess of Montrose, spoke at a joint Guild meeting in St Paul’s. I knew nothing about the Preshal Trust at this point but was totally captivated by May’s story not to mention the way she told it. Let’s just say her style and delivery was a bit different from that of the Duchess. It was obvious, however, how close the pair were and they provided and unforgettable evening for all those who attended.
May and I got chatting afterwards and there was that special experience when souls touch. From there I made frequent visits to the Trust and then came the day when May phoned to ask if I would come on to the Board of Trustees. She said: ‘We need to get some young blood involved.‘ Well I was fifty-something at the time but I wasn’t going to argue. She knew how to draw you in! It was an exciting time. The Preshal premises was little more than a glorified portacabin and the plans were afoot to have a specially designed building established on the site. As happens with such projects there were ups and downs but eventually the present building in Aboukir Street emerged and continues to realise the original vision.
One of my earliest experiences at Preshal sums up everything that May stood for and strived for in her Christian witness. It was the first time I attended the Sunday Evening worship. During one of the worship songs the door opened and a young woman came in. She was obviously in some distress. Dirty, disheveled, tear-stained. May immediately moved towards her, covered her in a huge hug and led her to a seat. The pause button was pressed on the worship while we heard her story. She had come to Preshal some months before struggling with heroin addiction and with May’s help had been making good progress. She then dropped off the radar and there were reports that she had been drawn back in to the old ways. It had been two months since there was any contact but here she was and no need to think she was anything other than precious in the sight of God and accepted by His people.
That’s just one of the many people who will be remembering May with thanksgiving today. For all that she was, for all that she gave, for all that she showed of the love of Christ in her life. One of May’s favourite verses of Scripture is in the prophet Joel where God promises his people: ‘I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten.’ (Joel 2: 25) She had cause to regret those years in many ways but she was grateful that God had given her the opportunity to emerge from addiction and brokenness to be a witness to the renewing power of His Holy Spirit. That same Spirit was with her in the hospital ward yesterday and has taken her to that place Jesus has promised to all those who love him. The place where there is no more disease, no more pain, no more sin, no more tears. The place where she will fully realise how ‘preshal’ she is in the eyes of the Heavenly Father.
