AIDANS FUNERAL SERVICE

Aidan at the Limerick Hilton

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AIDAN POWER

~ 1947 ~ 2008~

AN APPRECIATION

The Funeral Service for Aidan took place yesterday (Saturday) morning at the Society of Friends Meeting House near Punches Cross. During the meeting Scripture readings and personal memories of Aidan were shared by his family and friends. The picture that emerged from the reminiscences was of a man who cared deeply for others, especially the troubled and downcast. The atmosphere of the meeting while sad was warm and uplifting.
The assurance that Aidan is now at rest with his God was present throughout the time of waiting on the Lord.

 At the burial adjacent to the Meeting House ,these verses from Matthew 25 were read 

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

.I shared this appreciation of Aidan …

I would like to say just a few words this morning about Aidan . This is going to be difficult as he himself was never a man of few words, and it is impossible to adequately remember his towering presence among us in just a few words. My connection with Aidan goes back over 30 years when I first met him at Mallow Street Hall. I had just become a Christian and was looking to find others who shared my ‘born again’ experience. Going to a Prayer Meeting for the first time was a bit nerve-wracking, and I felt like a fish out of water. I cant remember was it at my first meeting or a subsequent one, but very early on Aidan came over and in his easy conversational style, instantly put me at ease. Later on he would often drive me home after a meeting and the ten minute journey would stretch to an hour and beyond as Aidan parked the car and engaged in chat about various aspects of the Christian life. I had lots of questions about what the Bible said on this or that subject and Aidan usually was able to give an answer. And when he was stuck for an answer he would lean back and pick up a battered copy of Strong's Concordance from the back seat, and together we would chase the relevant Scripture. This was a regular occurrence for Aidan as he similarly encouraged and assisted dozens of young people who had come to faith around Limerick at that time. And this was the story of his life…drawing near to people…encouraging them and giving of his time and his money wherever he saw the need.

Aidan was a man without any guile, what you saw in Aidan was what you got, and what you got was given with a generosity of heart and spirit that was rare and wonderful. Another memory goes back a number of years ago when a few of us were living in Dungarvan and found ourselves stranded just two days before Christmas. Our transport at that time was an old Morris Minor which was held together by prayer and fasting, and let us down at the crucial last minute before we were to go home. Charming as Dungarvan was, we were anxious to get back to Limerick and we called a few numbers for assistance with no success. Then someone, it might even have been me thought of Aidan. We made the call and without a moments thought he made the trip down to collect us. The road conditions were hazardous because of frost and ice and the journey was slow and laboured. Casually on the road home Aidan told us he had to go to work at midnight.

Aidan's life was like his house, the door was never locked. He was always there for others, whether it was to meet for a chat or whether you needed a place to stay. There are some here today who enjoyed this hospitality and knew first hand how open and kind he was. These are the marks of a life well lived, the marks of a man who loved his God and sought to serve his fellow-man.

In recent years Aidan was deeply affected by the death of his beloved brother, Paddy. For over many years he cared for him and nursed him. And Paddy's death hit Aidan hard. All of Aidan's life was a quest for truth and reality. He would often challenge himself and others to show the substance of the Christian life and not just the talk or the theory. He need not have agonised over himself, as he lived that life and walked that path in the multitude of kindnesses and compassionate acts which he showed towards others.

But Aidan also wrestled with this question…Why do bad things happen to good people? Perhaps more than anything else this puzzle occupied him over the last two years. He often said to me “It’s hard to understand it all” I would agree with him, and that question will occupy many of us leaving this place today. Why do bad things happen to good people? I don’t have the answer to that, but I trust in One who does. And I believe today that Aidan has at last the answer, as he enjoys fellowship with his Lord.

Just to conclude let me say this about Aidan,he was great company. We would meet regularly with Tony Carey and Tony Ryan and he usually ensured a lively and wide-ranging discussion. No subject was taboo and a stimulating exchange of views ensued.Aidan always made sure that no matter where the conversation rambled he would always bring it back to the Bible, you could say that his second language was Scripture and he shared it with a fluency and a passion that was arresting. He had a great grasp of the Book and a sharp memory for appropriate verses related to whatever you talked about.Aidan studied the Bible diligently and he would quote from the Psalms or Thessalonians or one of the Gospels with ease and familiarity.

My last meeting with Aidan was just a week before he died, when we drove out to Doonass on a beautiful sunny afternoon. We walked along the river bank and admired the scenery and talked. Later we went inside 'The Anglers Rest' and over a few drinks we continued our chat. Aidan was in great form and spoke enthusiastically on a variety of topics That is how I will remember Aidan , animated ,passionate, sharing of himself with others, oozing gentleness and acceptance to whoever he met.

I can't imagine my life without Aidan. His huge re-assuring presence has been removed from us. I can't imagine the grief and heartache of Aidan's family at this time. May God enable all of us who loved Aidan, his family, his friends to cope with his huge loss.

Gerard O'Shea

If you have a memory of Aidan that you would like to share, you can leave it in the 'comments' section just below this piece.