A Remembrance Meditation

This is a meditation I had the privilege to give on Remembrance Day 2002 during the Township of Innisfil ceremonies.

Remembrance Day is but one day that we set apart to dwell upon those people and events that have given to us that which we enjoy every day of the year. Simply because we set only one day aside specifically for this purpose should not mean that it is only at this time of year that we ever should think upon these matters. Unfortunately, this is the very real situation in many people’s lives today. Many of us can never really remember in any true sense the four great conflicts that this day commemorates (the Boer War, The Great War, The Second World War, and The Korean War). But we must never let this become the excuse for failing to dwell upon the sacrifice that has brought us the peace, freedom, and safety, of the world in which we live.

Remembrance Day is not a day set aside for the glorification of war. We do not relish war. We as Canadians have a reputation as peace-makers and peace-keepers. Yet we as Canadians also understand that there is a peace that can only be found at the end of a sword. It is understood that no war, in fact, no human effort no matter how noble can ever bring about infallible, everlasting peace. But this should not stop us from preserving what freedom and peace that we do have.

Today, we think of those who have done just that. We remember those who have gave of the best years of their lives. We remember those who gave of their health. We remember those who gave of their wealth and time. We think of those who paid the prices of war. Those whose physical health was taken. The strong made weak. Those whose mental health was taken. The stability of the mind left shaken and even in some cases destroyed. Those whose friends were taken. Those whose loved ones were taken. Those who paid the ultimate sacrifice with their very lives.

We humbly bow before Our Holy God, knowing that every good gift, including freedom, is ultimately from His hand. We understand that He, not us, is sovereign over the affairs of this earth. Few passages explore the truth of God’s sovereignty like Psalm 33.

Psalm 33
1 Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
2 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.
4 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.
5 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.
6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
9 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.
10 The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.
11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
13 The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.
14 From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.
15 He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.
16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
17 An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.
18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
22 Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.

And so today we stand together in awe, humility, and praise before our Almighty God.

We also stand together with a debt of gratitude to those who gave of themselves that we may be free. To those of you who stand here today as veterans of these conflicts, you are to be honoured. “Thank you.” You stand before us as a link that connects the past with the present. We who gather with you salute you.

Today, may each of us pledge that in God’s providence, we ourselves will become a link that connects the present with the future. May we pass along the memory to the next generation, that in gratefulness to those who have given of themselves so that we may be free, their memory will not be forgotten.