Children of God book launch 30 July 10 Today was the launch of the Tutu bible. I was dreading it, and it started off really badly. The Master of Ceremonies began by saying, "a big welcome to Luke Stubbs, his wife Helen and their family". I started to cry, and I couldn't go and hide in the toilets because the room was packed with TV crews and photographers. So I just sat there and cried quietly. Luckily then a dominee sang an uplifting song - it was the Our Father set to the tune of Auld Lang Syne, and he was accompanied by a group of adorable children who looked so sweet that I got distracted by the cuteness and cheesiness of it all. It gave me time to think about why I was there - and I decided that if the general mood of the place was warm and positive then I could handle my grief and stay there and feel it. If the mood was mean and destructive it would be best to go. But it was very warm and loving, so I stayed. It was a long launch - two hours of it, and the Arch was very sweet, and said lovely things about Luke - stuff that I had forgotten in the ghastliness of the last six months we had together. Luke insisted, when they chose the stories and the way they would be illustrated, that men and women were shown as equal before God, as any depiction of men as superior to women was a license for men to be physically abusive towards their partners. I remembered again how morally courageous Luke was, and I realised that there was an 'us' that people perceived - of us as a couple, that has survived that awful fracturing that was so heart breaking. Then the stupid MC cocked up again: a publisher asked the Arch 'What made you decide to write this book,' and he said, 'Luke Stubbs told me to, so I did,' and the MC said, 'he's a powerful man, this Luke Stubbs.' Anyway, today I saw the pretty face of the church - the appealing, warm, kindhearted uplifting face, and for a moment I forgot the corruption and wrangling and ugliness. I'm still glad I'm not part of it though. But I do like Archbishop Tutu. He took my hand and kissed it and said, 'you cared for him beautifully right to the end,' and it soothed some of the pain of it all.

Grace on 02 August 10
I am sure the MC will feel terrible once someone whispers the facts in his ear. You are an inspiration Helen - you are so very truthful and honest and I say that without even knowing you personally - just through your blog. I have read your blog for quite some time - even before Luke became ill. I read it with sympathy for you and Luke when he was diagnosed for all that you were going through with no thought that I may have to walk this path also. After a few months of being ill and being treated for an ulcer my husband has been diagnosed with esophageal cancer and we see the big surgeon tomorrow to hear what the plan is going to be. They say there is only 5 degrees of separation between all of us, I tend to believe it.

srj on 31 July 10
So glad that the good bits won through. So glad that so many good things about Luke were named and honoured - and will live on in the influence of this book and so much else. xxx

Gill on 31 July 10
Helen this sounds like a very powerful experience. I think it's totally wonderful that your husband and Archbishop Tutu did this together. I think though that the MC should be taken to task he obviously did no research at all before he just got up there and blabbed.

Name
Email address
Comment