The Queen is now with her King of Kings: Snippets of learning more about honour dynamics amidst the death of Her Majesty - Snippet 4

photo credit

As we continue in a series of 'snippets' from the honour contexts being heard in responses and reporting surrounding the world's mourning and memories of the late Queen Elizabeth II …..here is the next 'Snippet' and subsequent thoughts to ponder in relation to our own lives.

SNIPPET 4

Among the many people I have heard interviewed and comments I have read over these past days in the media, other interesting concepts emerged - 

One from a British citizen who said that the Queen was a constant figure that formed a 'national identity'

Even Princess Anne observed the reality of this as she accompanied her mother's casket on the journeys from Balmoral to Windsor and seeing the outpouring of sympathy and support and grief and love, stating  'we may have been reminded how much of her presence and contribution to our national identity we took for granted'.

Another commentator noting that as people filed past the Queen 'lying-in-state' there were people from many generations and culture - all drawn to come and honour the Queen.

Others when asked about how long they had to queue commented that she gave her whole life, so the least they could do was give 24 hours to wait in a queue.

One lady waiting along the road-side for one of the funeral processions said:

'I'm from Uganda, and its good for me to be here as a black person as well, just to say [I] 'appreciate' the love, the kindness, she has brought to the commonwealth, ...basically show my children, let them be part of the history'.

The Queen was a common point that brought a sense of unity of people from all walks and cultures and generations of life, and even across political parties. In a context of diversity, there was commonality for those in the UK as all having the same Queen. In diversity there was common identity in the Queen whom they were all 'under' as Monarch. Beyond the UK, her  'Commonwealth' also brought a context of unity and identity as it welcomed nations and their people from across the globe.

SELAH - PAUSE TO PONDER

Identity is an honour concept - it is related to a sense of value in who we are under a 'name' or 'group' label that gives dignity and worth and significance and belonging.

But far beyond any earthly identity is the eternal identity we firstly have in the dignity of being the created belonging to the Creator. Then as Christians we have redeemed identity in Christ. Christ brings not only the honour of identity in him for those who are citizens of heaven, but the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is one that welcomes any who come to him no matter what generation, location or ethnicity. God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, a greater love and kindness than any an earthly Monarch can offer. 

If an earthly Monarch can engender such a sense of identity as well as welcome, how much more should we be eager to 'appreciate' what God has done for us in Christ. How much more should we see that any sacrifice on our part is so small in relation to what God has given us in Christ. 

Many are finding it hard to take in the enormity of Queen Elizebeth devoting her 70+ years to serving her people. It's on a scale that most of the world can't really comprehend. But Christ gave his all for us on a far greater level which we certainly can't begin to fathom. How much more should we desire to give him the honour and devotion and loyalty and sacrifce of our life, out of humility and thankfulness.