This Incomplete One

This is a very moving book that can be strongly recommended to any parent who has lost a child. It consists of addresses occasioned by the death of a young person, and in some cases it is the parent who is speaking. Some well-known names like Karl Barth and Friedrich Schleiermacher make an appearance as theologians who lost their children. In these cases and indeed in others as well, there is great depth of theological reflection in trying to understand the loss. The speakers do not try to minimise the pain of the situation but they relate it to a wider and deeper context, in drawing on well-known passages in the New Testament as well as on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Faith and hope are central in coming to terms with untimely death, but the reader is nevertheless reminded of the fragility and transience of human life. This can help one make the most of the opportunities with our our families and close friends.