Thursday was a chemotherapy day and it came with a new experience. I didn’t realise that on the fourth floor of the Beatson where I check in there is a ‘hub’ provided by the Beatson Cancer Charity with tea and coffee, recliner chairs, newspapers and magazines and a lovely view over Hyndland. Avril Paton’s ‘Windows In The West’ came to mind. I was a bit early arriving and was directed there by one of the nurses. Just one more way the Beatson works to make patients feel as much as ease as they can be. You never know how long you may have to wait and to do so in such comfort makes a difference. It really did feel that a place had been specially set for you.
The night before Jesus was crucified he promised his disciples that he was going to prepare ‘a place’ for them. (John 14: 2). That first made an impact on me in the early days of my ministry. As assistant at Glasgow Cathedral I was Chaplain to two schools for children with special needs. In one of those a fourteen year old girl died and a memorial service was held. John 14: 1-4 was read with that promise of ‘a place’. It wasn’t a profound mystical experience but I had a firm impression of a typical young person’s room all ready to receive her. After a short and challenging life of physical disability everything was now provided to make her fully herself.
That is what is involved in the ‘place’ that is promised to each one of us in the Eternal Kingdom. We are set free from the brokenness of this imperfect existence to serve in Christ-like completeness. Although committed to the work that had fallen to him as an apostle Paul still looked forward to this. ‘For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.’ (Philippians 1: 21)
