Journal

Inheritance

Posted on December 30th, 2005, in the small hours

John, a close family friend, died two months ago. He was truly an inspiration to me; a man who filled the word 'Christian' with rich meaning before I even realised there could be any question.

In the years when I imagined I had exhausted the depths of Christianity, John was prominent among those whose humble example quietly and constantly exposed my conceit. As I have journeyed into a full-blooded Christianity, John has also been prominent among those I have turned to for prayer and counsel.

John left his spiritual books to me in his will. Over Christmas I've had the task of negotiating the myriad unforeseen dimensions to collecting and sorting through his extensive collection.

My reason for writing this here is to make a public record of the decision I have made in my heart: I don't want to be an inheritor just of books. If I merely inherit paper it will profit me nothing, but my sincere aspiration is that over my own lifetime I might also inherit the deep and generous spirituality they informed. I will more determinedly be a part of the hundredfold increase of John's life.