Love That Will Never Let Us Go
The theme of our Hamblin Vision membership magazine this autumn is Letting Go. We have a rich series of articles on this theme. In collating them, I was struck by certain common themes that crop up when exploring the concept of letting go - chief among them being how painful the process of letting go can be, especially when we have not freely chosen to do so but have been forced into a position of having to let go by circumstances beyond our control.
Henry Thomas Hamblin would have leant a compassionate ear to our natural human resistances to painful circumstances. He himself was often confronted by situations which forced his hand, including the most painful wrench of all - the bereavement of losing a child.
In the life journey of the spiritual writer and mystic, Henry Thomas Hamblin, there lay a profound lesson in letting go. It was not merely a philosophical concept but a transformative process that he experienced, understood and later shared with the world.
When we imagine letting go of our worldly troubles that weigh us down and erode our natural joy in life, we might picture a bird opening its wings to embrace the boundless sky, free from limitations and burdens. HT Hamblin’s life journey was a living embodiment of this image, as he continuously released his fears, doubts and earthly attachments to find his true spiritual nature and purpose in life.
Two significant life events were pivotal in the development of HT Hamblin’s spiritual teachings - the loss of his young son Dick, and the selling of his optical business in London to devote himself to a contemplative life in the countryside.
In his earlier life, HT Hamblin was an ambitious businessman. After several moves and false starts, he eventually built up a successful optician’s business in London. He married, started a family and enjoyed material prosperity and the respect of the business world. However, the trajectory of his life changed forever when tragedy struck. HT Hamblin and his wife, Eva Elizabeth, suffered agonising loss when their ten-year-old son, Dick, fell grievously ill and died, while away at boarding school. Surely the worst, most painful life experience that can befall any parent is the loss of a child, and Hamblin suffered intense, unrelenting grief.
In the Hamblin Vision’s annual Winter Solstice Candle Lighting Ceremony, in which we honour our friends and loved ones who have passed before us by dedicating a lit candle to their memory, we read a passage from Hamblin’s book The Message of a Flower where Hamblin reflects on this period of his life:
“Ah me, life would be sad and hopeless indeed, if our faith did not stretch out firm hands beyond the grave – if it could not tell us that all is well. But the flowers greet us with loving and sympathetic glances: they would gently chide our sorrow saying “Dear mortals, try not to be sorrowful this day, because of those who have passed from your sight, but not from your company. We bring you messages of hope, for we come from the country of eternal day. We are messengers from that Love that will never forsake you – that can never let you go.” Yes! Yes! Love that will never let us go. How soon we forget that wonderful Love, past all understanding, and beyond all definition.”
He goes on to say: “Take heart. Behind imperfection is the divine perfection. Behind the gloom the sun is shining. Behind all sorrow is the eternal joy. Let us enter into the heart of things and realise this glorious truth now. For we can do so. We can pierce the gloom and see the glory behind it all. We can realise in our soul that all is indeed well.”
During this phase of sorrowful introspection born from loss, Hamblin came to realise that the only way he could breathe freely under the suffocating weight of the grief that lay on his chest was by letting go of it emotionally. He decided not to cling onto the pain but rather to let it flow freely through him without fighting against it, as a river flows around boulders in its path rather than attempting to move them aside.
In doing so, he found peace—a calmness within him that was serene yet powerful. This most agonising of experiences precipitated greater depths to the direction of HT Hamblin’s spiritual work.
Another turning point for HT Hamblin came when he took the decision to sell his successful optical business. For years this enterprise had been both laborious and rewarding for him in equal measure. He played the game of businessman well. However, he sensed an increasing yearning for profound inner contemplation, which demanded complete dedication, free from worldly distractions.
The decision wasn't easy; it meant abandoning financial security for an uncertain future driven solely by faith. It was a great risk. Yet again, Hamblin decided to let go—to detach himself from materialistic bonds and wholeheartedly embrace spiritual pursuits.
So what happened next? His bold step brought forth unexpected outcomes: he wrote a correspondence course and several books on spirituality that resonated deeply with readers across generations worldwide. By daring to let go, instead of clinging onto familiarity out of fear or comfort, he unlocked doors leading to extraordinary achievements!
This transformative journey, from being an optician dealing with physical lenses enhancing vision, to becoming a spiritual guide helping people see beyond visible realities, is indeed awe-inspiring!
To see more articles on theme of Letting Go, please download the Autumn issue of the Hamblin Vision magazine or purchase a print copy. Please visit our magazine shop: https://www.thehamblinvision.org.uk/shop/hamblin-vision-magazine
Caroline Harrison