The Mystery of Everything – a Lent course based around the film ‘The Theory of Everything’

Week 4: The encounter with frailty

It’s not easy to give reflections without having seen the film, ‘The Theory of Everything’, based on a book by Jane Hawking with her story of hers and Stephen’s life together, but for those of you who haven’t seen it or don’t have the opportunity to join with the Tuesday evening (7.30 pm) or Wednesday lunchtime (1.00 pm) groups – here are some thoughts for consideration and for conversation.

Lent is a time when we can deepen and broaden our faith. There is so much we can’t explain within our world. How do we come to terms with mystery and faith? We may find that there are more questions than answers.

This session deals with failure and particularly the failure of relationships, but also the question of time and what it means as Christians to live within time but to relate to a God who is beyond time.

The film clip shows Stephen getting used to the speech synthesiser which has become so much part of him. There is a moment in the film where Jane believes that Stephen might at last have accepted the existence of God, and he allows her that moment of belief, even if he does not truly share it with her. He reveals that he has asked Elaine Mason, who is one of the team of nurses caring for him, to accompany him on his next trip. This upsets Jane, who realises that Elaine has taken this role over from her. There is the inevitable question of what else Elaine has taken over from her. Jane clearly felt that though she loved Stephen and did her best, she had failed.

Questions for reflection on a range of issues raised

• Do you think Jane failed in her relationship with Stephen? This may not be easy to answer if you have not seen the whole film.
• Is failure an inevitable part of human experience?
• Think of a time in your life when you have felt you have failed. Did it make you stronger or weaker? Do you feel differently about it now?
• Think about your church. It may be Cornerstone or another church. Do you think the church gives a stronger impression of condemnation or of grace. Are there ways we might respond differently in difficult situations?
• Returning to the theme of time – are there things you would do differently if you could start again?
• How does the sense of a life beyond what we know now affect how you might feel about failure?

There are a lot of questions here and they may prompt you to think of more, but while we sometimes rush on thinking of tomorrow before we have lived through today, it is sometimes worth pausing just to think about the day.

Why don’t you do that now?

• What have you done today?
• Did you really pay attention to what was going on around you?
• Who have you met with today?
• Did you really notice them or simply pass them by?
• What have been the special things about today?
• Is there anything that leaves you with a sense of failure?
• Have you taken the time to bring all of this to God, who has been with you all through today?

Reflect – either on your own or together with someone else on:

Psalm 103:8–13

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
long-suffering and ever faithful;
he will not always accuse
or nurse his anger for ever.
He has not treated us as our sins deserve
or repaid us according to our misdeeds.
As the heavens tower high above the earth,
so outstanding is his love towards those who fear him.
As far as east is from west,
so far from us has he put away our offences.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
for he knows how we were made,
he remembers that we are but dust.

Prayers

Thanks be to you, our Lord Jesus Christ,
for all the benefits which you have given us,
for all the pain and insults which you have borne for us.
Most merciful Redeemer, Friend and Brother,
may we know you more clearly,
love you more dearly,
and follow you more nearly,
day by day.

Amen

Richard of Chichester

You may use these reflections on your own or take the opportunity to share with one or two others. You will find yourself on a journey to somewhere you may not yet recognise.

With thanks to Hilary Brand ‘The Mystery of Everything’ .