Yesterday I went to the funeral service of Heather Quinlan. I had known Heather and her late husband Bernard ever since we moved into Hadleigh. They were very nice people and full of hidden depths. Heather died after a short illness and was just shy of 79. She had an eventful life which included being a child prisoner of war in the Far East and being a graduate of Girton College, Cambridge. Along the way she became a mother of five children and stepmother of a further three.

The order of service included the following extract from John O’Donohue’s Eternal Echoes “May You Awaken”

May you awaken to the mystery of being here and enter the quiet immensity of your own presence.
May you have joy and peace in the temple of your senses.
May you receive great encouragement when new frontiers beckon.
May you respond to the call of your gift and find the courage to follow its path.
May the flame of anger free you from falsity.
May warmth of heart keep your presence aflame and may anxiety never linger about you.
May your outer dignity mirror an inner dignity of soul.
May you take time to celebrate the quiet miracles that seek no attention.
May you be consoled in the secret symmetry of your soul.
May you experience each day as a sacred gift woven around the heart of wonder.

In the current times of forever running around –(when do the retired get a day off?) it is always worthwhile to be reminded that one should take time to stand still and reflect upon one’s being and purpose.

John O’Donohue is also the author of Anam Cara – Spiritual Wisdom from the Celtic World.

God bless you Heather, may thanks for your friendship and introducing me to “May You Awaken” and reminding me that I have Anam Cara on my bookshelf.