NaBloPoMo -- Remembering

Words written a century ago. by a Canadian Army Dr, words that have been a part of our remembering ever since.

Then there are some other words that come to my mind this day:

The tumult and the shouting dies;
The Captains and the Kings depart:
Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,
An humble and a contrite heart.
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!

Far-called, our navies melt away;
On dune and headland sinks the fire:
Lo, all our pomp of yesterday
Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!
Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!
(from Rudyard Kipling's Recessional)

It is the 11th day of the 11th month. A day of remembrance. A day of prayer. A day of sorrow. A day of hope.

What do we remember? What do we pray for? What do we hope for?

AS we stand in the cold watching folks place wreaths of poppies against a stone cenotaph and think of 1000's, nay 1 000 000's, who died before their time on battlefields or in bombings or in displacement camps, or ... where do we go from here?

When I was growing up I remember clearly the words of hope that were shared every November. Never Again.  That is our hope, that is our prayer, that is our challenge.

We remember those whose lives were forever changed by warfare on this day not to romanticize war, but to bring its harsh reality back into focus.  We remember that we, the children of God, including those who follow the Prince of Peace, fall SO SO short of what could be. We remember that sometimes the world falls apart, and lives are blown apart in the hopes that we will eventually learn a new way.

Despite the evidence we hope that the people of the world will learn a new way of being.

We remember many form various places and various eras and various roles. Because not all veterans are elderly.  Some are young.  Not all affected wore uniforms. Some were civilians living in the middle of battle, some were left behind to wait and worry. (see this article) And let us always remember that those affected by war on ALL sides, not just "ours".




Today is a more than a day off (and it isn't even a day off for everyone). It is a day of faith. It is a day when we need to name the fact that the kingdom sometimes seems far far away.  But as a person of faith, as a person who believe that God is bringing the kingdom closer, I believe that today is a day to remind us of the possibility.  Never Again. And the wolf will lie down with the lamb....

But in the mean time:
Lord God of hosts, be with us yet
Lest we forget -- lest we forget