How’s your memory? There’s a lot of Covid about again. People who have it this time say it’s causing absolute brain fog. Some people begin a sentence then can’t remember what they wanted to say, others go into the kitchen for something and when they get out there, they haven’t a clue what they meant to be doing.
I’m hopeless at remembering instructions of how to work things. I’m told how to do it then I get to the thing and I’ve forgotten what I’ve been told. For work, juggling a lot of churches and the superintendency of the area, I wouldn’t rememberthings, dates, things people want me to do, without a lot of lists and alerts on my phone.
How good are you at remembering people’s names? I meet people in the street who know me and they chat away and I’ve no idea who they are! The last one was a lady who obviously knew me. It took my brain a while to remember I buried her father four years ago. Ministers remembering is a bit weird. I went to visit one of my former churches in County Durham recently. I walked in and said “hello Alan” “hello John” and “hello Susan.” I’d not seen them for 19 years! They were in the context I remembered them in. Were Alan, John and Susan walking down our Main Street this morning I doubt I’d remember their names.
Memory and forgetfulness are as life and death to one another. To live is to remember and to remember is to live. To die is to forget and to forget is to die.
Today is a huge day all about remembering. It’s deeply moving that one Sunday a year the whole country, young and old, black and white, all of us remember together as one nation the sacrifice of so many who gave their lives in conflicts past, and those who serve our country today in the armed forces who still give their lives that the world might be a safer place. Greater love hath no man than this that he lay down his life for his friends.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.
As I stand by our war memorial at eleven o clock as we keep two minutes silence, I will pray for a deepening of community between us.
Last night I listened to a performance of Karl Jenkins The Armed Man at West Park URC in Harrogate. My wife was in the choir. The programme notes remind us since it was first performed in April 2000, it’s become the second most performed large scale choral work after Handel’s Messiah. Truly a miracle say the notes, But, also say the notes, “in that time the world has not learnt the lesson of the work and tragically, war and violent conflict seem to be all around us still.
So the message of the Armed Man remains as relevant now as it did when it was first conceived. We sing it today in the hope of that other greater miracle, that in future we shall find better ways than war to settle our differences.”
Without commenting on the American mid term elections, I just note there were some Christians in the mix including two United Methodist ministers. Here’s a quote to think about:
My faith teaches me that love is the strongest force in the universe. Love is not passive.
Love is not neutral. Love is not weak. Love requires that we stand between the bullies and the bullied. Love requires that we look evil in the eye and not blink. That kind of love has always been a threat to the powers that be. That kind of love is revolutionary. That kind of love is creative.
Hate is predictable. Hate is boring. Hate can't lower our energy bills. Hate can't teach a child to read. Hate can't build a future. But what hate can't do, love can.
Love can turn a student into a scholar. Love can turn a closet into a nursery. Love can turn an enemy into a friend. Love can turn a campaign into a movement. Love, love can heal what's broken in America. We can't defeat the politics of division with more division. We can't win that game. We have to change the game.” That’s James Talarico the new governor of Texas.
We remember and in remembering we say “let’s do it differently.” A divided world can be healed but it has to start with a reminder everyone matters. And difference, division and war can cease.
I’d like to share a story with you. It’s called Tusk Tusk by David McKee.
Once upon a time long long ago all the elephants in the world were black or white. They loved all creatures … But they hated each other, And each kept to their own side of the jungle.
One day the black elephants decided to kill all the white elephants. And the white ones decided to kill the black. The peace loving elephants from each side went to live deep in the darkest jungle. They were never seen again.
A battle began. It went on and on and on. Until all the elephants were asleep. For years no elephants were seen. Then one day the grandchildren of the peace loving elephants came out of the the jungle. They were grey. Since then the elephants have lived in peace.
But some of the grey elephants noticed that they had different shaped ears to some of the others. The End.
Think about it.
On Remembrance Sunday we share our memories, thoughts and reflections. We give thanks for the selfless sacrifice of many whilst confessing the failings of a sinful human race.
We pray for peace on earth and an end to the madness & waste of war. In the bible the prophet Micah predicts terrible times of war for the people of Israel.
But then he goes on with this amazing vision – the day when peace will replace warfare and swords will be made into ploughs.
Of course, ultimate peace and justice and joy will come only at the end of time in the Kingdom of God. But that doesn’t mean that we just sit and wait – it is never too soon to start cultivating the oasis of peace in the desert of our war mongering world.
In the words of Mahatma Ghandi, “Peace is not something that you wish for. It is something that you make, something that you do, something that you are, something that you give away.”
If we truly want to honour those who died in war, we can do no better than by building a more peaceful loving world for their children and ours. So let us be peace to one another.
Peace begins in our families, our communities our nation. Peace is our gift.
I wonder what God says to us after Remembrance Sunday is done and we’ve taken the poppies off our clothes. “Maybe this year they’ll remember and resolve to be better people. Micah goes on to say – he has told you o people what is good and what does the Lord require of you: to do justice and to love mercy and walk humbly with your God. The heart of what it means to be human in community.
So today, let us remember with gratitude. Let us pray with compassion. Let us live with kindness.And above all, let us never stop praying and working for peace. May God help us to become people who bring light into darkness, hope into despair and love into a troubled world.
I end like this. The words of the American President John F Kennedy who was cut down in his prime remember – are our take home thing to remember — my old college tutor in sermon crit used to say tell them what you want them to do when they go home… As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.
