Remembrance Sunday is always a difficult day for me as a Methodist Minister.
My Grandad, who was one of the wisest and kindest human beings I’ve ever known, fought in WW2 and never talked about it. He would never wear a poppy or attend the Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial because he thought it was better to leave the memories in the past rather than keep bringing them up year after year. For many years, out of respect for him, I didn’t go to the civic Act of Remembrance and I always blocked Remembrance Sunday when I was a Local Preacher.
By nature I am a pacifist and whilst I sadly recognise that sometimes armed conflict is the only apparent solution to a genuine evil like Hitler it must always be the very last resort. My constant prayer is that human beings will find a better way to settle their differences.
This year, as every year since I was stationed as a Methodist Presbyter, I will be leading a Remembrance Day Service. My focus, as always, will be on all who suffer in time of war, on all sides, military and civilians. I can thank God for those who gave their lives for others, who gave their tomorrow so we could have our today: whilst at the same time praying and hoping for a time when humankind is truly mature enough to make war a thing of the past: as time when we can share our world’s resources fairly and accept and actually celebrate each other’s differences.
Today I will take part in the Civic Act of Remembrance with my fellow clergy. I will wince at the nationalistic aspects of it and stay silent when the National Anthem is sung because I cannot, with integrity, sing the words; but I will give thanks to God for those from all nations who lost their lives in war.
Today I will wear the red poppy, actually several because I have the full set of enamel badges, not just to remember the British dead, but those of all nations who have lost their lives as a result of the evil that is war!
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