AS I
look back over these past 12 months, I
know that it has been about as full a
year as I can remember. But Christmas
itself still remains a time for
reflection and a focus of hope for the
future. All great religions have such
times of renewal, moments to take stock
before moving on to face the challenges
which lie ahead. Many
of you will know only too well from your
own experience the grief that follows the
death of a much loved mother or sister.
Mine were very much part of my life and
always gave me their support and
encouragement. But my own sadness was
tempered by the generous tributes that so
many of you paid to the service they gave
to this country and the wider
Commonwealth. At such a difficult time
this gave me great comfort and
inspiration as I faced up both to my own
personal loss and to the busy jubilee
summer ahead. Anniversaries are important
events in all our lives. Christmas is the
anniversary of the birth of Christ over
2,000 years ago, but it is much more than
that. It is the celebration of the birth
of an idea and an ideal.
In a different way I felt
that the Golden Jubilee was more than
just an anniversary. The celebrations
were joyous occasions, but they also
seemed to evoke something more lasting
and profound a sense of belonging
and pride in country, town or community;
a sense of sharing a common heritage
enriched by the cultural, ethnic and
religious diversity of our 21st-century
society.
I hope it also provided an
occasion to acknowledge the progress of
the past 50 years and the contributions
of those who have done so much to make
this country what it is today
their leadership and example, their
achievements in science, the arts and
many other fields. These celebrations
also gave opportunities to recognise the
valuable work undertaken by so many
people in service of their communities.
It was a time to remind
ourselves, as the Christmas story does
every year, that we must never forget the
plight of the disadvantaged and excluded,
that we must respond to the needs of
those who may be in distress or despair.
Our modern world places such heavy
demands on our time and attention that
the need to remember our responsibilities
to others is greater than ever.
It is often difficult to
keep this sense of perspective through
the ups and downs of everyday life
as this year has constantly reminded me.
I know just how much I
rely on my own faith to guide me through
the good times and the bad. Each day is a
new beginning. I know that the only way
to live my life is to try to do what is
right, to take the long view, to give of
my best in all that the day brings, and
to put my trust in God.
Like others of you who
draw inspiration from your own faith, I
draw strength from the message of hope in
the Christian gospel. Fortified by this
and the support you have given throughout
the last 12 months, which has meant so
much to me, I look forward to the new
year, to facing the challenges and
opportunities that lie ahead, and to
continuing to serve you to the very best
of my ability each and every day. A Happy
Christmas to you all.
ELIZABETH R
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Golden Jubilee
Britain Shuts Down World's First Nuclear Power Plant: Cumbria Since 1956