... November is a month full of remembrance, firstly there is All Saints Day when we remember all the saints and martyrs from Christian history. This is then followed by All Souls Day when we celebrate all the faithful departed.
The secular world is encouraged to ‘Remember, remember the 5th of November, gunpowder, treason and plot’ - when Guy Fawkes so dramatically failed to blow up Parliament.
And of course, on Remembrance Sunday we remember the sacrifices made by so many, which gives us the freedom and liberty we enjoy today.
But as I write this, I am aware of how fortunate I am to have been born at the right time and in the right place. As the years pass there are more and more of us in this county that weren’t around to experience the destruction of war first hand. But sadly, conflicts continue in other parts of the world, through our television screen we are brought up to date daily with the horrendous suffering in Israel and Gaza, and the devastation from the war in Ukraine, to name but a few. And of course, the reality of war is that everyone suffers, regardless of which ‘side’ you are on.
In war the common purpose is the pursuit of freedom and greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for his friends.
As Christians we have that perfect example in the life of Jesus who laid down his life that our sins would be forgiven and we would be free. Jesus is the perfect example of love, He walks beside us and comforts us throughout our daily lives, whatever we are going through.
Whatever our memories or experiences of war, be it first hand or learnt through history, they are brought to mind each Remembrance Sunday - their sacrifice was made for us and for future generations, and it is our duty to remember why we have the freedom we have. I know things aren’t easy at the moment but you only have to listen to the news from around the world to realise just how blessed we are and I pray that in time all nations will learn from their past and live in peace.
It would be a mistake for us to think that remembrance is simply about history, our remembrance is something we make present, here and now, as we consider the significance for each of us.
Whatever this month of remembrance brings to mind for you, we must always remember that love laid down its life for others. God so loved the world that he gave his only son, and His Son died that we might have eternal life.
Every blessing,
Julie
