My little Gnudren,
Old Gnu writes to inform you that our beloved Mrs. Gnu, Susan, has died. As you know, we are both insanely religious. This insanity is based on a continuing personal sense of divine providence and “guidance” throughout our individual lives that square with the life and teaching of Jesus. Old Gnu doesn’t believe that people find meaningful Christian faith through a series of propositions or subscribing to doctrinal creeds, but by setting themselves under the teaching and claims of Jesus and seeing whether they ring true to the nitty gritty of life.
The knotty grotty of a right doctrine and credal formulas can go hang as far as old Gnu is concerned, but then old Gnu is a heretic.
No no, she has not “passed away”, her body is still here, but dead. We shall burn it presently. But the person who inhabited that body has moved on to a far fuller existence in God, because again we heretically believe that personhood and consciousness is more than a series of chemical reactions. Mrs. Gnu had a great sense of going home to God who in the first instance put her on this planet. And now, in the words of John Bunyan, ‘the trumpets have sounded for her on the other side’, a lovely poetic way of describing her welcome beyond the shores of this world.
But now to practicalities. There will be a thanksgiving service celebrating her life at 2pm on 1st March at All Saints Church, Church Lane, Long Ashton, BS41 9LU. She has specifically asked that people wear colourful clothes. Please remember us in your thoughts and prayers at that time.
Should any of you come, please can you observe the following:
Clothes
People wearing black will not be admitted as Mrs. Gnu wanted people to come dressed in bright colours. This is not a funeral – we’ll have burnt her body already. But exceptions may be made for those who are:
1. colour blind
or
2. have a medical condition that necessitates wearing black.
In both cases a medical certificate from your GP will be required to be shown before admittance.
Food
Some will be provided but do not miss breakfast and lunch otherwise you may be caught with your “trousers down” and found gastronomically wanting. (The Angel, Pub, is about 80 yards from the church).
It is our intention to provide tea and mostly gluten free cakes. A glutinous alternative may NOT be available. You will however be permitted to consume your own gluten on the premises, without payment. However, the premises may need a ritual cleansing afterwards!
Behaviour at the Service
Mrs Gnu with foresight wrote down all the details of her thanksgiving service in January 2022. Though she was a keen practitioner of Dance Movement psychotherapy, any wishing to engage in some dance movement therapy during the service should be mindful of where they are, lest they be open to misinterpretation.
Mercifully the song, Lord of the Dance (by Sydney Sago), one of Mrs. Gnu’s very favourites, did not make it into her service. The family are extremely relieved because they all hate this song with a vengeance, and have their own version: (I danced in the morning when I got out of bed, I slipped and fell, gashed a hole in my head….so on and so forth…).
Live Stream
The service was live streamed for those unable to attend in person and can be viewed at https://youtube.com/live/6UguR6lF6oA?feature=share. The Order of Service is downloadable below this blog.
Finally, my little Gnudren, Old Gnu exhorts you to love and cherish your friends and partners if you have one. Be nice to them! Never take them for granted. Then you will have no regrets if they die. You will have sadness and may be a sense of a void in your life. But the deal when we were born was that we would die one day. But there is an overriding power of Love that can carry you through the void and loneliness and make you feel nice and tingly inside. Blessed are those who find this liberating dimension in life, a dimension that transcends death, loss and grief. If their delusional faith makes them better people and helps them tackle the real problems in the world and helps make the world be a better place while they’re alive, then blessed be that delusion!
Amen.
Vetus Pater Gnu
Academiae Musicorum et Theologia
Turris LA
XVIIl Mensis Februarius MMXXIV
I found your blog yesterday. It has helped me so much in many ways. I feel as though I’ve been waiting a long time to hear words I should have said. Although this is a time of grief for you, you are blessing others.
Just discovered this. Sue’s the 4th person we know with mnd. So sorry Berj xx
Very helpful insightful moving and humorous words in the midst of deep sadness. Susan’s goddaughter Becky sends much love and prayer, as do Alison and me. We will be in attendance in one form or other. I was particularly looking forward to the dance sequence to that iconic number. Such a pity…
Thanks, Gnu for your blog, it is very good. I will think and pray for you all for the 1st March. I particularly liked Susie
Despite this sad news these words have made me smile and I may have to send them to our daughter who probably thinks her parents are also insanely religious. Thinking of you and the family.
Thank you very much indeed
Such a wonderful blog full of humour and love. It sounds as if 1st March will be a wonderful celebration of Susan’s life. I’m very sorry that I can’t be there as I’ll be away, I am sure it will be a memorable event and bring comfort and joy to many who loved Mrs Gnu.
I particularly loved your suggestion that we love our friends and family so we have no regrets. I will go forth and do just this!