Yesterday I lit a candle for Griffin and my Grandad at Westminster Cathedral (a wonderful cathedral that is often missed by tourists in favor of the Abbey, I recommend a visit if you are in the area). I'm not religious. Coming from the west of Scotland from a mixed Christian background, you learn to steer clear of these things. My grandparents on both sides were devout. I was christened in a Catholic cathedral and attended Sunday school at the Church of Scotland on and off for several years.
I do believe in a God and and afterlife. I believe in angels and that there is something greater than people. I do not believe in a God that intervenes in everyday life. I don't believe that things happen 'for a reason' or 'God acts in mysterious ways'. Death and destruction are byproducts of life not punishments or lessons doled out from above.
When Griffin was born we were asked if we would like a chaplain to say a blessing for him. We wanted to wait until our family came for this but by this time the chaplain had left for the day. Almost as an after thought the midwife said. I think the hospital Imam is here, he would be willing to do a blessing if you'd like. She was surprised (as was my MIL) that we both were more than happy to have a Muslim cleric perform a blessing on our baby. It was a beautiful blessing. He first said it in English, then Arabic and we were touched that he said Griffin's name several times. He said he was honored that we asked him to be part of it.
MIL was not overly happy about it, but she's not a fan of anything that she's not an active part of and wouldn't have been happy unless she'd done the blessing herself.
We chose to have his funeral service at the cathedral where I had been christened and have him buried with my grandparents, in a beautiful cemetery at the top of a hill with a lovely view over a loch. My uncle died as a very young baby and is buried nearby. Although it is far from where we live, it's somewhere we feel he'll always be safe.
I believe Griffin's in heaven and one day I'll see him again.
My husbands father died when he was young and Dereck also lost a brother to SIDS. Both of them are buried side by side and Liam will also be buried by them when we have his burial in a few weeks. The cemetary is thousands of miles from us but I too feel like he will always be safe since he will be buried with family.
ReplyDeleteThinking of you and Griffin
Your views on Christianity are quite similar to my own... I hate when people tell me that this has happened for a reason!! I don't buy it!
ReplyDeleteAnd Griffin's resting spot sounds beautiful.
Sending Love