Preparations are now well in hand for this weekend’s special
celebrations of Her Majesty the Queen’s 60th Jubilee. I am part of the organising team for a Street
Party in Union Street, St Peter Port, the capital of Guernsey which will take place tomorrow afternoon
and we are really hoping that it won’t rain!
60 years on the throne is a tremendous milestone and one worth
celebrating. The reign of Elizabeth the
Second has seen so many changes but very early on, when the Queen was still in
her twenties, she took a remarkable step of preparation. Speaking in a live broadcast the young
Elizabeth pledged herself to the service of her realm and peoples for the rest
of her natural life. In other words, the
Queen made a commitment, public and clear, forthright and forceful, that would
affect the direction of her whole life and that of the British peoples.
That kind of self-less commitment may be rare in our day, but
it is a powerful illustration of what it means to begin a life of dedication to
God and to others. Commitment is still
the foundation stone of Christian discipleship.
Those who respond to the call of Christ must make a clear commitment of
their lives to His service. Whether done
in youth or in old age, there is no other way to prepare to both serve and then
one day meet – our God. May He help us
to make or to remake that commitment this weekend. Have a wonderful Jubilee.