As one sits down to write a reflection, it is seldom that one has a very big event in mind but this week it has been the story of the loss of the Queen to the UK and to the Commonwealth.  From the Second World War through mankind walking on the Moon to another war in Europe, the Queen's reign was full and rich with human history, much as was that of her namesake predecessor.

For many of us, the Queen was the only monarch we have known and that was reflected in St Luke's on Sunday, when a number of us slipped up on the words of what is now 'God Save the King'.

Just over a week earlier, I had the privilege of listening to the eulogy for another lady who had served people and the Church of England faithfully throughout her life.  She had lived six years more than the Queen but their lives had been lived out in parallel.  Whereas the Queen had had a very public life with the press and cameras following her around except when she was safely back within the royal palaces or on her huge estate of Balmoral, the lady whose life was recounted had not had the paparazzi chasing her.  Nevertheless, she had led a very public life for many years as a minister's wife and she had lived that to the full.  It was clear from those who attended her funeral that she had made a deep, positive and lasting impact on many lives, not least those young curates who had 'learned their trade' with her and her husband.  I don't think that I have ever seen so many bishops and other clergy at a 'normal person's funeral' before and every one of them clearly had an enormous affection and respect for her.

Her faith had carried her through those years, some tinged by family tragedy but always lived to the full.  After her husband died, she gave herself fully to the community and was regularly seen in deep conversation with people in the street, always taking a keen interest in them and their welfare.  She had that uncanny skill of making you feel that you were the most important person in her universe at those times.

I write this because there are uncanny parallels with the woman we have lost this week.  Thousands of people have been introduced to the Queen and one can only imagine how routine it must have been to her.  However, when you listen to the stories people tell of those introductions, everyone always says how 'at home' they felt and how important they were made to feel.  This contrasts so much with many people with fame, fortune or both who can barely hold back their contempt of others and the odd one who has made a character trait of insulting people, gathering millions of votes in the process.

When one hears those stories of how people have felt on meeting the Queen, it is easy to discount them and to assume that people are just spouting a formula or deluding themselves.  I used to think that might be the case.......then I was introduced to the Queen.  That little (by then) woman had a way of looking into your eyes that simply said, 'Wow, am I pleased to meet you at last!  I have been waiting for this moment and here it is.  What's more, I know that it's important for you too and I want you to know that I feel the same way.'

Ridiculous, isn't it?  However, that was the feeling I had.  It was exactly the same feeling that I had when I met that lady whose funeral I attended.  I can only, in the end, put it down to something that they very much had in common:  they had each heard Jesus's commandment to 'love your neighbour as yourself' and to those two ladies, that meant something.  What's more, their faith led them to obey it throughout their long and generous lives, enriching the lives of those that they met.  We could do with a few more people like that in this world.  Amen.