Tomorrow brings my first involvement with a funeral for nearly a year – such is the difference between life as a bishop and ministry in a congregation. I miss it – not, obviously, in the enjoyment sense. But for a pastor, a funeral brings together the opportunity of knowing people at the deepest level, the natural sadness of the moment, thanksgiving and the challenge of standing in the face of death and declaring resurrection hope. Sometimes the pain is just too great – but sometimes the thanksgiving for long life well lived releases all sorts of wonderful things. And, as you get older, you think more about your own death and what you really believe.