Rememberance

By

M.Z. Sereda

Here in Canada, November 11 is Rememberance Day when we remember those who gave their lives for our freedom.

Why is it only on Remembrance Day that we take time to remember the sacrifices made by our brave men and women abroad?

Every year on the 11th day, in the 11th month at the 11th hour we take two minutes of silence to honour those brave men and women who fought and are fighting for the freedoms we enjoy today.

When I was just a boy, Remembrance Day was a statutory holiday for everyone.

Back then I would read books that told of the horrors of war and the Hitler regime: my favourite being The Hiding Place by Cory Tan-Boom.

I also remember as a child re-enacting wartimes.

I fired my rounds at the enemy and fought valiantly: being sure to stay in my trench to avoid the on slot of the adversary.

It was through my reading and my play that I began to become aware of not only the sacrifices made on our behalf but also the atrocities of war became real in my dreams at night.

Back then, the cold war was still on and the Soviets were to be feared.

I still remember the fear that made its way up my spine when the air raid sirens were being tested and can only imagine the sheer terror felt by those civilians who heard its blast and knew that an air attack was imminent in their area or occurring close by.

Now, we have our brave men and women fighting and or stationed throughout the world. In times of war they are fighting a war they likely would rather not fight and in my opinion, weather we agree or disagree with the deployment of our soldiers, we ought to honour them for it is through them that our great free lands find themselves secure.

It is the brave men and women fighting abroad who have left their families and they who cry in secret where no one else can see for just one touch, word or look from a loved one.

If you take time now to remember at 11 am on November 11th, when you are silent, think of the people who probably won’t sleep tonight because they’re busy either dodging bullets or shrapnal. Perhaps they are suffering ptsd because of the haunting memories of past wars.

When you see a veteran on the street, thank him or her for their service to you since they have risked life and limb in order that you could walk the streets with the freedom to demand that your government clean them up.

No thanks can ever b enough for one who is willing to perhaps lay his or her life down as an act of the love they have for their country; its freedoms: its people.

No thanks can ever be enough for one who has returned from war minus a leg, arm or even some of their faculties due to a head injury wrought on either by flying shrapnel or a bad fall that just happened to occur whilst rescuing an army mate.

Yes, my friends, war is an insidious but sometimes unfortunately necessary evil in our midst and it is truly my hope that some day human kind will truly beat their swords in to ploughing sheers and turn their nuclear bombs in to energy to heat homes and perhaps travel to other galaxies and dimensions.

It is my hope that such remembering can drive us toward seeking peace; that true inner peace that will perhaps bring on the dawning of a new era: an era where war is only a card game played among friends.

The following is based on Joel 2. We’re living in tough times: there’s no doubt about it. There’s more and more unrest it seems and it seems to be more noticeable each day: the onslot of turbulent times I mean. It seems everyone is feeling it: something big is coming. More and more channels on YouTube are talking about it and it seems anxiety is growing in each of us: some more than others but everyone’s feeling it. Along with the noise that is getting louder and louder so to that still small voice, the voice of God calling each one of us to Himself. For those of us who are already members of the family of God, He’s calling us to return and to the rest He is knocking on the door of your hearts asking for you to let Him in. As I was reading, I saw that if we return God will give us corn and oil. He wants to restore our lives from the bad willful choices we have made. “I will restore the years the locust has stolen. Each one of us misses the mark in a variety of ways: in the original wording… we’ve all sined and gone our own way. God wants to feed us. Not only does He want to supply our physical needs but our spiritual ones to. He never did promise ease in this world but He did promise a lighter load: His burden is an easy one when you consider the gift of a clear conscience and forgiveness. Just a sidebar, I find it interesting that when someone wrongs us, we want payment and yet when God wants to be paid back for the wrongs done Him we rail: why is that? The cross is barbic but so are the deeds done by humans to their brothers and sisters aren’t they? In spite of all this God calls out to each one of us. Not one of us can truly point fingers and throw stones from glass houses can we? God longs to restore us all: each one of us He longs to neurcher… to give us rest. For those who are already members of the family of faith: return to God if you have drifted. To those of you who are feeling that proding of the Spirit of God as you read this, even if slightly, if you are thirsty, come and drink: it has already been paid for by Jesus on a cruel cross. Can you hear that still small voice of that ancient carpenter calling your name? Lord, speak to us all and soften our hearts and open our eyes to see from your perspective? And everyone said… amen and amen.

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