The Church of England is busy appointing a new Archbishop of Canterbury.

The 100th Archbishop of Canterbury, Michael Ramsey (1961 to 1974) died in 1988. I met him when he came to my Theological College in Cambridge. He and Mrs Ramsey later invited me to tea at Lambeth Palace.

A friend in Sri Lanka has just sent me a quotation from Michael Ramsey:

“We are apt to think that tradition is inevitably a thing which enslaves and holds in bondage. In truth, tradition can be a gloriously liberating thing for us. It frees us from the dominance of some passing fad or fashion or enthusiasm; it liberates us into a larger realm wherein we are free from the tyranny both of today and of yesterday.”

I put this along side an insight attributed to Gustave Mahler which may have originated with Thomas More:

“Tradition is not the worshipping of the ashes but is the passing on of the fire.”

I certainly believe that tradition has something to do with keeping my roots alive. I know that without healthy well-watered roots plants die.

Four of us went to Verdi’s La Traviata at the Grange Festival in Hampshire last Saturday. On one of the hottest days in the year we were all appropriately dressed – ‘black tie.’ I might have resented being ‘dressed up’ had I not overheard a conversation between an older friend and a much younger great nephew. My friend recounted that her school music teacher had explained that the reason an orchestra dressed formally was ‘to honour the music.’ That was a new thought for me. I realised that how I was dressed for the Grange Festival was not about me at all. It was about the music, the artists, the event – which was wonderful.

I am preaching this Sunday at St Agnes. It’s Whitsunday, Pentecost, the Feast of the Holy Spirit. The word ‘love’ features in the readings set for the day. I cannot get out of my head one of the songs from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s ‘South Pacific.’

It is the love song ‘Some Enchanted Evening’ which includes the words –
‘Who can explain it, who can tell you why?
Fools give you reasons, wise men never try.’

It will be a short sermon.

At the swimming pool on Monday I signalled to a fellow swimmer, younger and faster than I, that he should go ahead. It is the polite thing to do. After a few more lengths we paused and chatted. He thanked me. I said that I was a slow swimmer and old to which he replied, “Yes, but you have experience.” I took that as the compliment he intended and was pleased. 

It was only later I wondered that, while age brings experience, have I learnt from mine?

Over dinner yesterday I was asked about the cruise and in the course of giving my account many much older memories were reawakened. I am looking forward to friends and family visiting and staying in June and July and possibly another cruise in October. However the truly important and enjoyable moment is now. We live the present moment. Now is the time.