Remembrances

Today is Remembrance Day - the anniversary of the end of the First World War in 1918.
Traditionally it is observed with with two minute silence at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.

We don't seem to observe this in our Salvation Army Corps (church), but I recall doing this in England. In 1996 on Remembrance Sunday we were at Sunderland Monkwearmouth Corps. The Corps Officers (pastors) Majors Maurice and Lynda Hunt requested that I include this. It was a beautiful ceremony held just before the commencement of the Holiness meeting.

The writer of Words of Life gave an interesting comment on the subtle difference between "remembering" and "not forgetting." Major Evelyn Merriam adds "Not forgetting implies always keeping the person or thing in mind. Remembering speaks of of being mindful again, of someone or something that may have slipped our minds. It may take another's prompting. If we need memory prompts to remind us of ordinary things, how much more essential it is of eternal things."

We were at Peacehaven to conduct Chapel services. We also visited Hope Centre where we spent some time chatting with those who have some difficulty in remembering things. They love to tell us about their past but have difficulty remembering more recent events. So we learn to listen to their stories perhaps more than once! Come to think of it, I too have come to the age when I tend to do the same thing - telling the same old story! I remember lots of things, but I've also forgotten much!

We sing one of our old songs, "Tell me the same old story, for I forget so soon. The early dew of morning has passed away at noon." Sing that to the elderly please!