Not Just Poppies!

A couple of weeks before the Remembrance commemorations last weekend, I read a review of Armistice celebrations from past years in which it was pointed out that, alone among the countries of Europe, Britain has, for many years, seen the event only from its own point of view: 'Britain standing alone against the foe', and has ignored fact that, at those times, we did have the continuing co-operation of our colonies, often at a disadvantage to themselves, and of other nations under government-in-exile.

A few years ago, the Royal British Legion had a slogan, 'Wear your poppy with pride'; but just what do we mean by 'with pride'?  Is it pride for a victory in war, a gesture of triumph? Or is it pride in the sacrifice of heroic lives?  Some were so disgusted at these possibilities that they took to wearing white poppies, simply symbolising peace.

Last year's commemoration focused on the centenary of the end of the Great War and now, following an enquiry from a distant cousin challenged by a school project "World War I and my family", my thoughts have turned once again to the number of lives wasted; four years of slaughter in the mud, a generation destroyed ... and for what?  Peeled back to the bare bones, I suggest, it was to satisfy national pride, or even - thinking of the circumstances surrounding the Kaiser's birth - the ultimate result of a midwife's mistake!

But I want this post to be forward-looking ... what comes after the conflict?  I've recently been reading the story of the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC, as reflected in the writings of Jeremiah.  For centuries, Jeremiah and other prophets had warned the people about their lifestyle, which was contrary to the Covenant God had made with them when He brought them out of slavery in Egypt.  At last the penalty had to be paid; they lost their precious temple and their city.  But, amidst all the threats and warnings, there is an indication of what will follow.  Despite what appears to be a devastating end to the relationship, there is hope for the future in the promise of a new Covenant (Jer. 31:31-33).

A J P Taylor and other historians have suggested that the very one-sided Treaty of Versailles at the end of the First World War was a contributory cause of the Second.  It heaped all the blame on Germany and imposed swingeing reparation terms in addition to the loss of territory and of its colonies.  Certainly, it gave Hitler a cause that he could exploit to persuade sufficient of the population to elect him to power in 1933.

Contrast this situation with the way that God dealt with the people of Judah.  Even before the invasion by the Babylonians, there was a promise of reconciliation.  This is, after all, what God always desires, that his people can dwell together in unity (Ps. 133:1).  In our Remembrance service on Sunday there were prayers for the recognition of the sins and shortcomings of the world: pride, selfishness, greed, evil division and hatreds; and of our share in what is wrong and failure to seek and establish the peace that God wills for His children.

This search for reconciliation is relevant to so much in our lives today.  It's not just the poppies and all they stand for, but present-day areas of strife and conflict as well.  At a personal level there is often discord between and within families, and within our communities there are clear needs for understanding, co-operation and reconciliation, and especially following Brexit ... whichever way things turn out in the coming months.

Each of us must answer the question, "What reconciling action are you being called to right now?"

Before it All Goes Pear-shaped

I'm sure I'm not the only one who, from time to time, has had this experience.  Something goes wrong, and results in a sickening feeling in which my predominant thought begins, "If only ..." 

My mind goes back to teenage, when I was given a big shelf clock.  It stood perhaps 40 cm. high and was quite beautiful; its only problem was that it didn't go.  Keen on finding out what was wrong, I attacked it rapidly with whatever tools were to hand.  Suddenly the spring 'exploded' and shattered other parts that, in my ignorance, I had loosened.  Instantly, a condition of 'not going' was transformed into 'completely ruined'.  Occasionally in the intervening years I've thought regretfully about this chain of events and the fact that I don't now have a clock to show for them.  It seems quite likely that it could have simply needed a professional clean and appropriate lubrication to unleash many more years of useful service.  If only ...

A few weeks ago, I attended a training session devoted to 'manual handling and working at height'.  One of the situations described by the trainer was one I could easily imagine.  Someone is using a ladder to reach items stored on a shelf above head height.  He needs to retrieve something that is just beyond his reach while standing erect on the ladder.  Instead of coming down, shifting the ladder and re-ascending, he holds the shelf with one hand while leaning and reaching with the other to gather the item he wants.  This shifts his centre of gravity beyond the base of the ladder, with the result that he falls and sustains injury.  If only ...

My Bible reading has recently led me through Luke's gospel and in particular verses in chapter 14, where Jesus is teaching about the cost of discipleship (Luke 14:28-32).  Here are two short parables that could prove relevant here.  Whether it's building a tower (some translations say it's a barn) or fighting a war, the meaning is clear:  work out first what it will need, what it's going to cost you, before going ahead.  It's what the professionals call 'carrying out a risk assessment' and it's very common in any kind of business activity, in both the commercial and charitable sectors. 

But I'm going to suggest an additional step.  In the Bible, both Psalms and Proverbs offer an endless source of good advice to the intelligent reader and I'd like to direct you to just three verses.  The first is from Proverbs, and reminds me of that clock episode.  "The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty." (Prov. 22:5).  We hear in respect of commercial deals about the need to 'carry out due diligence'; in this context, the diligence advocated is, in my opinion, defined by my second verse.  "Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken" (Psalm 55:22).  In other words, before building a tower, fighting a war, dismantling a clock or anything else that is important, call on the Lord in prayer, asking for wisdom and an awareness of all that the project involves, before deciding to go ahead with it.

My third verse was also culled for this article, but I find it summarises the way of my spiritual life.  "Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You.  Show me the way I should go, for to You I entrust my life." (Psalm 143:8).  I'm not saying I obey it faultlessly - who could? - but at least I open myself to God's leading.  If I choose not to follow what He advises, in the words of a familiar saying, 'on my own head be it'!