On the 21st April, 1947, Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II said, “I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.” This was on the occasion of Her 21st Birthday. This is a promise Her Majesty delivered upon, unfailingly.

You can review the film on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yDDqO4dH3c and the full transcript here: http://www.royal.uk/21st-birthday-speech-21-april-1947

The close of Her speech invites us to join in this dedication. She said, “God help me to make good my vow, and God bless all of you who are willing to share it.”

Are we willing to share such dedication to the prosperity and wellbeing of others? Her Majesty is an example of someone who saw the bigger picture, realised the necessary longevity of Her commitment, and lived, consistently, accordingly. Could you and I faithfully keep such a promise for 75 years? I believe every decision Elizabeth II made was influenced by Her unbreakable commitment to the long-term service of the realm.

Duty

Discipline

Devotion

I was thrilled to hear Nicholas Whitchell say that The Queen enjoyed Her role. When duty becomes an accepted vocation, maybe it ceases to be duty in any onerous sense. Perhaps it become liberating when accepted unswervingly. The Queen’s was a life dedicated to duty. Could it be that duty becomes privilege when we accept it?

Seeing the arrangements, it becomes clearer to me that discipline is an essential part of a life well lived and a life well supported. The planning, preparation, and rehearsal that has gone into these State events is there for all to see. Practice and rehearsal has become a habit of excellence necessary for State events to succeed in the eyes of the watching World. Many have answered Her Majesty’s call to those willing to share her devotion and dedication to a life of service. Devotion requires structure and discipline in order to excel.

The Queen showed us what devotion to a cause looks like over a lifetime. The word vocation keeps coming to mind. A nurse never ceases to be a nurse with their vocation for healing – Doctors and Surgeons and Pharmacists sharing that vocation. A teacher never ceases to teach.

My heartfelt desire for all of us today is that we may all find a noble cause to dedicate our lives to in humble service. I hope we all have a sense of purpose that will carry us steadfastly through every valley, and help us to celebrate every hilltop. May we all discover a vocation that will define us as clearly as being the Servant Queen defined Her Majesty.

Lex

A Moodscope member.