July 2006

The Advocate

We went to the funeral to express our solidarity with the grieved and traumatised. We wanted to stand with the family, especially this family, after all, we know the boys. They say a problem shared is a problem halved, we were hoping they were right, but doubting. How could such pain be halved? Anyway, there we were alongside, not much we could say, but hoping our presence would be understood.

‘I lift my eyes to the hills; where does my help come from?’ asks the ancient writer of Psalm 121. ‘What situation had he experienced that made him seek help?’ we wondered. How could such old words contribute anything today!? Help for lifted up eyes! I’d like to see that!

He had been a terrific community man. Lived in the same area for years and years, and was well known and respected. Lovely things were said about him. ‘The first time we ever did business, at the closure we asked him the cost. With a smile he replied, Look, I’ve got to take home bread and milk, ten bucks will do. We liked that’. Others spoke of his ‘welcoming smile as you passed by in the street’, and ‘a wise, loving and hilarious man who provided me with support when I needed it’. One established local client said ‘true to his reputation – a kind, gentle, warm, understanding sympathetic man’.

He was clearly a man who spoke up for others, an advocate for people who needed support, guidance and help. He was truly an advocate, one whose voice was heard speaking for others.

‘Advocate’ comes from the Latin language. Greek also has a word for one called alongside to help. It is ‘paraclete’. In English this has a special meaning on account of the impact of the New Testament on our language. The Paraclete is God, the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus said would be given after his departure to help the beleaguered disciples. They had an awesome example to follow, and a dramatic policy to implement. They were to love like the world had never seen before. Love God, love their neighbours, and even love their enemies. The Paraclete would help them in this daunting work. Back in those days times were tough and life was brief and cruel.

Times have changed, but maybe not as much as we think. As rockets and bombs cause the death of innocents and lives and families are torn apart, right here, one man with a gun can bring his own chaos to people like us. We might be tempted to think that loving others doesn’t work, and that we should look out for numero uno. But there is something godly about unselfish generosity and grace. ‘Love is of God’ says the New Testament.

Fairfield and Alphington, Scotch and Melbourne have witnessed the death of a true advocate. Might David Robinson’s passing be an invitation to take fresh courage in the struggle to draw alongside and help others? Many people claim to have the Spirit of God, but the only evidence is loving and supportive relationships. We know that the purpose of the Paraclete is to lead us into such fruitfulness. Let us invite the Spirit to work in us.

Graham Bradbeer