The Enduring Melody

Michael Mayne is Dean emeritus of Westminster and the former head of religious programmes at the BBC. This is an extraordinary book in three parts. The first describes the 'cantus firmus' at the basis of his faith, while the second reflects on the nature of ageing. The largest part of the book is a diary recounting his journey through cancer of the jaw. He defines the cantus firmus as 'of a longing for the love of God as I have glimpsed it in those rare life affirming moments.' There is also the pattern of Jesus, the life of self-giving love shared in the service of others. Reflecting back on his life, Mayne remarks that wisdom is not what you know about: it's what you know, deep inside you, the very essence of your inner life.' The inner journey is also a journey from doing to being.

He sees the task of the last part of life is one of integration. This becomes challenging in the third part of the book when his human vulnerability is exposed by the ravages of his physical condition. Here it is clear that his spiritual practices of prayer and reading are essential not only to the rhythm of his life but also in responding to his life crisis. The daily entries are punctuated with longer reflections on spiritual themes and by observations written by members of his family. Mayne is a man of wide erudition, drawing on resources from literature, philosophy and religion to illustrate his points. He also has a keen sense of beauty and of the passing seasons. This leaves the reader with a deeper understanding of mortality and the preciousness of life (which have been in the forefront of my mind since Bart's untimely death).