Farewell Captain Tom

 

How very sad that Captain Sir Tom Moore died this week. A man whose determination at the age of 99 to do what he could to encourage medical staff at the hard end of the pandemic is exemplary. The sight of him getting up and going, using his walking frame to focus on exercising in his garden. His humble desire to raise a few thousand pounds if possible really caught on in a totally unexpected way. After Gift Aid was added the national outpouring brought in around £39 million.

His death from Covid is perhaps no surprise, for there are still so many people dying, the majority of them elderly, and as a centenarian he would not have expected to go on forever. But losing such a sign of hope while the virus continues to spread goes against the grain. Yet we remember that he brought an amazed admiration from so many of us, and that will surely remain. As a man who fought for his country during the Second World War he knew what he was talking about when he said “Tomorrow will be a better day”.

There is now talk about a statue being created to commemorate Captain Tom. He absolutely deserves to be remembered, though I wonder whether that is the best way. I would prefer to give to help the living, like hard-pressed Intensive Care staff, much as he wanted during his final year.

I was saddened in a different way, and somewhat shocked, to see that an Anglican Priest from the City of London had posted words on social media denigrating Captain Tom, who raised funds for all who serve in our multi-cultural NHS. He has now apologized and removed the offending posting, but what a misjudgment. We are called to acts of charity and kindness, on social media and in the whole of life, and Captain Sir Tom has been a shining example of a person who can inspire care and hope in others and we should be rejoicing at his achievements.

 

Heavenly Father, thank you for Captain Tom’s courage and determination, for his inventiveness in doing what he could to support others. Help us all, at whatever stage in life we may be, to look to how we can love our neighbour and bring care and hope to individuals and communities. And thank you for Jesus’ way of love, of going the extra mile, of willingness to sacrifice oneself for others. By your grace help us all to follow the way to which you call us, and be signs of hope and strength in our troubled world, that all our tomorrows may be better days. In Jesus’ name, Amen.