Celebrating Dr, Ray Brown

It's been an exhilarating weekend.  Nigel and Judy Wright (Nigel was my successor as Principal of Spurgeon's College) stayed with us in order to celebrate Ray Brown's 90th birthday.  Ray was Principal 1973-1986 (and Tutor 1971-73) and nine of us with strong Spurgeon links gathered for a splendid lunch and non-stop reminiscing, crowned by a formal speech from Nigel. 

Ray is the last person to laud his academic, preaching and pastoral accomplishments through the decades...and these have been huge and influential.  His immense gifts have taken him all over the world and touched thousands of lives. So much could be said but  Nigel summarized that it is his kindness that is the key quality shining through all he did as scholar, pastor, academic, headline speaker and the rest.  All of us agreed that his kindness and grace, coupled with winsome humility and humour have been gloriously present throughout the decades we had known him.

And what was stunning was that all these qualities dazzled again on Saturday combined with a gift of recall that was able to reflect on details throughout these years with startling clarity.  Each of us had specific memories of him and as we shared them he showed a grasp of detail back then that  was staggering.  Oh to have a memory like that!

How grateful we are to know Ray who consistently models Christian love and whom it is very easy to love.  Since his wife Christine (who matched him in grace) died it must be lonely, though his family is close, yet as I see him from time to time I marvel at his witness in bereavement and his energy.  As he was leaving he whispered that he enjoyed reading my blog.  If you see this Ray, know how many of us love you and truly value you for all you are to us.  Happy Birthday.