Lest we forget
Remembering is important – “lest we forget”.
This weekend people around the world will be focussing their attention on remembering those brave people who died trying to make a difference in freeing the oppressed, protecting the innocent and preserving democracy.
Jesus said, “greater love has no man [person] than this, that a man [person] lay down his [or her] life for their friends.”
It is so easy to forget what people have done for you that we need special anniversaries, birthdays and calendar events as aid memoirs. They also serve to focus our attention on something or someone important.
Remembrance day services and ceremonies are particularly poignant and meaningful and a chance for us to remember those who died for our freedom.
© Ministry of Defence (Defence Images) – source: Flickr.com
As a Christian, I and millions of others, have special occasions to help us remember. Easter, Christmas and services such as communion also focus our attention on the great love and regard Jesus had for people. He too, hates oppression, injustice and tyranny.
Churchill famously commented, “never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many, to so few.” Jesus death demonstrated incredible love and so many now owe their hope of eternal life not to a few but to just this one person.
Each week we have also been given one day, Saturday, to help us focus on one person – Jesus Christ. He invites us to step out of the rat race for 24 hours and focus on what is important: developing meaningful relationships with God and with others.
Our lives are all the richer when we remember.
I’ll leave you with a poem by David Harkins (1981) that moves me greatly and helps me reassess my attitude to remembering
© Eloquence and Decadence – source: flickr.com
You can shed tears that she is gone
Or you can smile because she has lived
You can close your eyes and pray that she will come back
Or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left
Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her
Or you can be full of the love that you shared
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday
Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday
You can remember her and only that she is gone
Or you can cherish her memory and let it live on
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back
Or you can do what she would want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.
