DEATH OF TOMMY CORBETT

ON THE GOSPEL ROAD

 Heard the sad news yesterday of Tommy Corbett's passing, after a short illness. Back in the day when a few of us used to share the Gospel with Sunday night revellers outside of 'Gaywear' , Tommy was the music man who kept our spirits high with a selection of soul-stirring songs. Often we'd be there until the early hours and then back to Tommy's place for a warming cuppa and a prayer. Tommy was a gentle , strong presence passionate about the Gospel and determined to share it with one and all.Our paths diverged then for many years and the next time I met him he was busking on O'Connel Stree outside the AIB bank. Anytime I'd meet Tommy he'd literally change his tune to some Gospel favourite (usually Johnny Cash) and I'd join in. I don't think my participation added to to the coffers as far as the busking was concerned but for me it was always a joy and a privilege to share a song with my old friend.
~GOSh.~

FOR TOMMY

The last time we met
You were busking by the bank,
And I stopped
Expecting, as usual to join in
For the Johnny Cash medley,
But for once you were painfully silent,
A man distracted .
Later when I heard the diagnosis
I understood your 'quiet' better
And knew that we would never again
Duet the Gospel Road
At least not here.

You didnt hang about
Once the deal was done
And hope had been bleached
From the here and now,
And though the music died
That within could not ,
Being paid for with a price,
The Redemtive tag of One
Bleeding on a cross,
Settling that old account
Once and for all.
 
~ GERARD O'SHEA~

AIDAN'S SIXTH ANNIVERSARY

AIDAN POWER REMEMBERED 

(1947 ~ 2008)

“Jesus calls us to his rest, and meekness is His method. The meek man cares not at all who is greater than he, for he has long ago decided that the esteem of the world is not worth the effort.”

A W Tozer

Aidan was a man without any guile, what you saw was what you got, and what you got was given with a generosity of heart and spirit that was rare and wonderful...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...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...

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...

He was great company. We would meet regularly 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...

Today, six years on from his untimely passing I remember that towering presence and those tender kindnesses and the void left behind in all who knew and loved this gentlest of souls.. Our hope is that Aidan is now present with the Lord and enjoying what God had laid up for him before the foundations of the world. (1 Corinthians 2:9)

Gerard O'Shea

DEATH OF A POET

 THE DRAMA OF LAST THINGS

Ireland's greatest living literary figure, Seamus Heaney has died at age 74. The poet was a Nobel prize winner and widely respected by his peers as well as a wider literary audience. Today the national airwaves here in Ireland  have been full of tributes to the late poet and readings of his poems.

Heaney left religion and faith behind early in his adult life, here in an interview with fellow poet, Dennis O’Driscoll he recalls his youthful flirtation with Catholicism…

When I was going, from first awareness until at least my early teens, I dwelt entirely in the womb of religion. My consciousness was dominated by Catholic conceptions, formulations, pedagogies, prayers and practices. Salvation, damnation, heaven above, hell below, grace and guilt, all were for real.

 So the drama of last things, the melodrama and even the terror of them were present from the start. You’d hardly got out of the cot before you were envisaging the deathbed. Soon, too, you would learn about the sacrament of extreme unction, able to answer knowledgeably about holy viaticum and the final anointing of the organs of sense with chrism and so on.

 You had your puny south Derry being within the great echoing acoustic of a universe of light and dark, death and everlasting life, divine praises and prayers for the dead: as in ‘ Grant them eternal rest, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen.’

‘Stepping Stones’ (Interviews with Seamus Heaney)

 by Dennis O’Driscoll  (p.471)

GOODBYE TO SORROW

This is Joe Kelly Phelps

 singing 'Goodbye to Sorrow'

AIDAN'S FIFTH ANNIVERSARY

 OUR BLESSED BROTHER

Today I remember my friend Aidan who died 5 years ago. A man whose generous life and searching heart was a blessing to many.  I miss my brother’s companionship and searing honesty when it came to the Christian life with all its twists and turns. While Aidan always strove to tell it like it is, he was careful to do it in such a way that it didn’t cause personal offence or hurt. Sometimes in the public forum he did go on a bit and literally tried the patience of some of the saints. However those with the good grace to listen would always reap a unique insight into an aspect of life or a facet of Scripture. I’m glad that I more often listened than grumbled and became a lifelong recipient of grace and kindness at the hand of this most gracious of Christian men. Today, brother with your family and those who became part of your ‘other’ family, I mourn your loss from us and take comfort knowing that your Blessed destination is assured.

 Just last night a lady came up to me whom I had never met before and told me a story about how Aidan had been a blessing to her. Apparently she recognised me from visiting Aidan’s house in Rosbrien, and spontaneously shared her experience of his kindness, oblivious to the fact that this was the eve of the fifth anniversary of his passing. She met Aidan on the street distressed by the fact that she had nowhere to live and he held her hand and prayed for her that the Lord would provide what she needed. Shortly afterwards she passed a building under construction and went in and told the builder of her plight. Then and there she was promised a place to live when the development was completed. She duly took up residence there and saw it as an answer to Aidan’s prayer. As she finished her story she hugged me in recognition of Aidan’s kindness and faithfulness to her in that hour of need. This is one story of many that shows the life enhancing effect that our dear brother had on so many people, the full extent of which we willnever know.

Gerard O'Shea

The following was written John O’Donohue who died just five weeks before Aidan, the thoughts expressed here speak for many of us at this time.

On The Death Of The Beloved

Though we need to weep your loss,
You dwell in that safe place in our hearts,
Where no storm or night or pain can reach you.

Your love was like the dawn
Brightening over our lives
Awakening beneath the dark
A further adventure of colour.

The sound of your voice
Found for us
A new music
That brightened everything.

Though your days here seemed brief,
Your spirit was live, awake, complete

Though we cannot see you with outward eyes,
We know our soul’s gaze is upon your face,
Smiling back at us from within everything
To which we bring our best refinement.

Let us not look for you only in memory,
Where we would grow lonely without you.
You would want us to find you in presence,
Beside us when beauty brightens,
When kindness glows
And music echoes eternal tones.

When orchids brighten the earth,
Darkest winter has turned to spring;
May this dark grief flower with hope
In every heart that loves you.

May you continue to inspire us:

To enter each day with a generous heart.
To serve the call of courage and love
Until we see your beautiful face again
In that land where there is no more separation,
Where all tears will be wiped from our mind,
And where we will never lose you again.
 

DEATH OF PHYLLIS DOHERTY

 Phyllis Doherty

1926 ~ 2012

I know the Lord is always with me.
    I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

 No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.
    My body rests in safety. For you will not leave my soul among the dead
    or allow your holy one to rot in the grave. You will show me the way of life,
    granting me the joy of your presence
    and the pleasures of living with you forever.

Psalm 16:8 ~ 11 

A RACE WELL RUN

 There were emotions of sadness and joy yesterday at the Baptist Church in Limerick as a capacity crowd gathered together to celebrate the life and witness of  Phyllis Doherty from Adare.Phyllis passed away to her eternal reward after a short illness and a long life dedicated to her Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

 I remember her from my years in Mallow Street Hall Christian fellowship where she faithfully worshipped and served and in the words of Peter Child’s  ( Church Elder) became an unofficial Elder in the little assembly.

 My abiding memory of Phyllis was on my visits to Graigue farm in Adare where she lived with husband Bill and a houseful of children ( 7 in all I think). As a young Believer I was often a guest there, where Bill supplied the lively conversation while Phyllis always lavished the table with irresistibly wholesome fare. As her daughter Jean recalled at the Service of Thanksgiving, her mother loved people and always kept an open house for visitors. Only occasionally did she deviate from her welcoming persona, like the night a couple rang from Limerick and more or less  demanded to visit, at 10 pm ! Even though the family had retired to bed it was all hands on deck and a slightly forced smile of welcome greeted their nocturnal visitors. 

Her marriage to Bill was recalled as an enduring love affair. From an early age Bill had his eye on her but propriety demanded that he would wait until she was 21 to formally ask her out. They suited each other well and worked together to raise a family and become involved in a wide variety of work for the Lord, Jean, her daughter revealed to the congregation that Bill tenderly referred to Phyllis as his ‘Peach’

.The Gideons International was an organisation that she became hugely involved with and her passion for the placement of Bibles in Nursing Homes and hospitals remained right up to the end of her life. Her son Hughie recalled this story that summed up her zeal for the sharing of God’s Word. While in hospital Phyllis told one of  the family that there was a box of Testaments under the stairs at home and she wanted them brought in to give to the doctors and nurses who were looking after her. The New Testaments were duly brought to the hospital but sadly she had slipped away, the family fulfilled their mothers wishes and distributed the books amongst the staff. It was my personal privilege to have known her and  to attend this Service of Thanksgiving for a saint of God who had run the race well and is now enjoying the presence of her Lord in glory. May her life and example inspire all who walk the pilgrim path to keep on keeping on and endure to the very end.

Gerard O'Shea