From The Quite Remarkable To The Most Remarkable

Here on these British Isles there once lived a sports commentator called David Coleman.

I remember some of the commentaries Coleman made on sporting occasions primarily through the video footage.  I distinctly recall him talking of some feat being ‘quite remarkable’.  The way he said it was so unique years after his retirement it echoes in my brain.

Whenever someone of significance dies I am brought to remember the episode Isaiah recalls in chapter 6 of his book in the Bible. Here King Uzziah – a quite remarkable personality – dies and Isaiah is captured and commissioned in the light of the vision of the Most Remarkable.

In the last six months two huge figures have died.  One died today, the other died in December.  Two massive figures – one influenced the national church conference in which I grew.  The other influenced specifically Britain in the last quarter of the 20th Century.  Great mourning and effusive tributes flowed as a result of these figures, despite the controversy they attracted whether by radical action or inaction.

For all that, they remained only quite remarkable.

The lives of the quite remarkable, should have within it indicators to the Life of the One who remains the Most Remarkable.  Remarkable for the controversy He attracted.  Remarkable for the wildly diverging views He elicited.  Remarkable for the love He showed.  Remarkable for the teachings He shared and embodied.  Remarkable for the Life He lived.  Remarkable for the lives He inspires today to walk in His footsteps.

As politicians and church folks come and go, my prayer is that we will constantly be inspired by an ever deeper vision of the Most Remarkable.

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

C. L. J. Dryden