Journal: A green day

Today was taken up with pastoral things and green things as I found myself in a couple of locations talking to people about ethical, morals and the values and standards that define us and our nation.

Would that the world and the Church embrace the same Values and Standards of the British armed forces. (remembered by the mnemonic CDRILS).

Courage: Moral and physical
Discipline: Self and imposed discipline
Respect: For others and for oneself
Integrity: WYSIWYG - are you/we what we tell people we are?
Loyalty: All found in that one word really
Selfless Commitment: Greater love has no man than to lay down his life for his friend

As I look at new recruits as they make their first contact with the military and begin their first day of training I wonder what they will look like when they pass off the square at the end of it all.

As I look at the Church I see what I fear most in the world as fewer and fewer of the Values and Standards are upheld and more and more people tell me what Church should be in their, often puffed up and dismissive of others, view.

One thing the Church is becoming is certainly not a mighty army. Is it any wonder that so many speak of decline when the world has so infected the Bride of Christ? It seems the grace and love that saw it grow became ingpfected by the leaven of power and politics under the Holy Roman Empire and the death knells are being rung by those who wish to see the world and Church become one - but not in an evangelistic sense - tragic.

As for me, and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Father God, the Bride of Christ has taken on the mantle of Gomer and now sleeps with others in the name of integrity and inclusiveness and yet displaying duplicitous and exclusivity. Mutual flourishing  has become a pot of wilting flowers detached from the plant such that eventually both will surely wither and die. Many I talk with share things in secret for fear of being outed as dissenting voices and  merely remain silent. The conditions by which women were given their pointy hats have been trampled down and there is no shame apparent.

Lord, have mercy upon us and renew a right spirit within us, Your Church.

Forgive us Lord, for we know exactly what we do,

Saint's Days: Fake News

Once upon a time, in a land of volcanoes and dragons, lived a Viking Chief by the name of Trump the Newsslayer. Trump was named after the Viking tradition of noting the first response of the Father upon seeing the new addition to the family. Oxblood the Great's father slew an ox in his son's honour. Rollo was named after his Father passed around a tune of chocolate toffees in celebration. Erik the Red - well his dad just painted the town red and partied for days. But sadly, for Newsslayer, his Father having partied hard during the labour merely stood and emitted noxious fumes at the news.

And so it was done!

Trump was a man who instilled fear in many of the people around him and eschewing the words found in the book of Ecclesiastes in one of the Bibles his forebears had removed from an Island on the East coast during one of their conquests, he treasured the songs of fools and the approbation of the weak-minded rather than the company of the wise.

But his name was made, not by slaying dragons nor by his good words or actions, but by engagement with 'fake news' wheresoever it might be found - even creating it where none was to be found so that the challenges could be laid down. From Bowling Greens and their tragedies through to awful non-happenings on the shores of the Viking lands - Trump's voice was heard!

And although rape, loot and pillaging had gone out of fashion across the globe, the poor were still fair game (especially when so many of them perhaps foolhardily followed him) and the rich and wealthy (of whom ironically, he was one) were a good target against whom to mobilise the rabble and appear valiant.

Suffice to say - 'Fake News' was never eradicated - in fact so much of the contemporaneous writings of the Newsslayer's time describe something rotten not in the state of Denmark but in the town of Washing (aptly named because over the years that it existed there had been  much whitewashing and washing of dirty linen to be found there).

So today - as we remember that martyr to the truth - the irrepressible saint of fake news and the opponent of so many - let us offer up a prayer in his honour:

Trump the Newsslayer

Loving Lord, Living Word, 

Today as we remember Trump.

Fill our words with wisdom, 

May our keystrokes be struck with honesty and integrity. 

May we pursue those who misrepresent the truth,

And hear the voices that need be heard over the noise of deceit,

Keep us faithful to the the goals of justice, mercy, and humility,

And strengthen us to overcome obstacles, 

And withstand the chattering and posturing noise of fools,

In the Name of the Living God. Amen.

ps. Apologies to real Vikings and their descendants everywhere ;-)

pps. Watch out for the many great stories in the 'Annals of Trump' (Coming soon)

It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools. For like the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of fools; this also is vanity.

D-Day: Seventy years on

Today, as we mark the seventieth anniversary of D-Day and pay homage to those who gave their lives on land, sea and in the air to bring about the beginning of the end of war in Europe, we pay tribute to all those who took part in that day and remain, proud and standing still.

We reflect upon the actions of all those brave men who piloted gliders into battlefield, jumped from aircraft and ran onto beaches laden with mines and into the face of machine gun fire: Those who ferried them to the conflict in the air and on the sea. We remember the women who were also present and providing medical support not far behind them too.

Today does not glorify war* - but it does remember the courage and sacrifice of many to rescue our island from the threat of conquest and repel the invaders from mainland Europe (something that took another 337 days of conflict) and bring peace. And we must remember that peace is something that rarely comes without a price - and that price was, in this action, over 4,087 allied lives (plus an unknown number of Germans) and more than 10,000 wounded.

Today, as I take part in the commemoration and remembrance of that day seventy years ago I offer a prayer of thanks for those whose selfless commitment, courage (and that's what it takes to run onto any battlefield) and patriotism have given me the freedom I, and all around me, enjoy.

For those who remain, my respect, admiration and thanks are yours.

For those who have gone - on, or from, the field of conflict or subsequently: May you rest in peace and rise again in glory.

And a prayer that was said by the Free French Commandos as they approached the beaches - one which might serve us well each day of our lives:

'Lord, I shall be very busy today. I may forget about You, but do not Thou forget about me.'

*take a look at the Omaha beach scene from 'Saving Private Ryan' to see how awful war is!

As Remembrancetide draws to a close ...

I'd like to take the opportunity to say 'Thank You' to all those who have held services, sold poppies, wheeled veterans around the various services of remembrance, made tea, wept with those who mourn and vowed to make the world a better place (in the many acts of commitment).

For those who I spoke to today - proudly wearing their Elizabeth Cross in memory of a life given in service to this nation: Thank You!

For those whom I met with medals proudly pinned to their chests and stories of service (some stretching back to before I was born) - my respect and gratitude are yours (and my prayer is that I might be of service to you in return).

For those who, like us at the National Memorial Arboretum today, braved wind and rain to pay their respects - my respect to you for coming and being part when others might have cried off.

Thank you to the staff, the volunteers and all who helped make today a successful witness of a nation's pride in is servicemen and women.

We have, and will always, remember them

Arnhem - the final night

Sixty-nine years ago at about this time the Allied forces that were the Market part of operation Market Garden (Market being the airborne element and Garden the ground force) were gathered around Oosterbeek waiting to withdraw. Heading to the Neder Rijn they were ferried across the river to safety whilst a remnant of injured were left behind to cover their tracks.

c. 2,000 killed
c.6,000 captured
c.2,000 escaped

Memorial to 1st Airborne Reconnoissance Squadron
(See image below)

Arnhem was not to be liberated for many months but those who lived there then, and now, remember with gratitude their 'friends' who came and battled so gallantly to deliver them from their captivity.

A final thought for one with whom I share a family link in that we wear the same capbadge and follow the same Captain:

To him and all who have died in pursuit of peace

dona eis requiem

A bridge too far

The words of Lieutenant General Frederick Browning to Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery before operation Market Garden, the Allied attack on Arnhem, proved to be most accurate. The operation (Sunday 17th September 1944 to Tuesday 26th September) which began with paratroopers landing near to Wolfheze on a Sunday afternoon only to see them ferried across the Neder Rijn by Canadian Engineers  in tatters ten days later reflected the difficulty of the operation.

Browning's words, 'I think we may be going a bridge too far,' ring true indeed. The weather which delayed the Poles, the inability of the armoured forces to arrive in two; the charge to the ground force to hold the ground for two days and their response - a promise that they'd hold it for four - was more than honoured. The splitting of the drops into a 'one per day' affair - defeating the efficacy of a parachuted force in delivering a 'coup de main' (a swift slap in the face') and the presence of battle hardened troops and a Panzer divisions all conspired ... and yet this is a place where courage, commitment and folly combine to make one proud of the conduct, courage and commitment of those who march away to war.

The past week I have been privileged to learn of the Arnhem story and to understand just a little more about war and those who cause them to be and those who cause them to end.

War is a place we are driven to by politicians, fuelled by folly and engaged with in courage.

We will remember them

Woolwich Murder

First things first - we mourn the loss of a Husband, Father and Son.

A man who fought for his nation who was cruelly and wickedly murdered.

We pray for his family, friends and comrades and we stand, resolute for what is right - done in the right way.

Drummer Lee Rigby2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

dona eis requiem

As wicked and foolish people respond out of pain, anger and downright stupidity can I add something that needs to be made as widely known as possible?

We will honour Lee, and all our fallen brothers in arms, if we uphold our values and standards.

We will honour God is we see justice (not vengeance), act mercifully and exercise humility (Micah 6.6-8)

We will not be shaken - we will not be beaten - we will not flinch nor refuse the battle - we remain resolute and strong - one family regardless of cap badge or service.

May God bring justice to those wicked individuals who deny others peace and freedom.

Honi soit qui mal y pense

 evil be to him who thinks evil

Bomber Command - Now Give Them Their Medal!

Today the Memorial to those who flew with, and gave their lives sering in, the Royal Air Force's Bomber Command will be unveiled.

This long overdue recognition of the courage and commitment of the 55,573 who gave their lives and the many others who served in such an awful role is something to not only be applauded but should be the start of the process that sees those who served rewarded with a medal to recognise this.

Whilst some will speak of atrocities and war crimes what we celebrate today is the courage and duty of those who served. This memorial has been welcomed by many, including those who inhabit the places that were the targets of the bombing campaigns of the second world war - which is just, right and fitting.

'We will remember them'

Sporting Integrity

Living in a world where we see foul language, diving and many other forms of cheating form a big part of our national sport, football (which Americans weirdly call 'soccer' leaving 'football to be used with an flawed form of rugger) it is so refreshing to see an example of sporting behaviour on any playing field.

The example here is that of softball and the scenario is that of a player in their last year hitting their first, and destined to be last, home run. Take a look:



The team that acted so nobly went on to lose the game 4-2 and the home run hitter bowed out with a home run and as part of a very special event. The act cost them the game but their selfless commitment won them much more.

Let's hope we make the difference to whatever and wherever we are today.

Pax

Living life to the full

I have recently been exposed to the situation whereby a young lady, beset by cancer, will perhaps not make it into her teens. Contrast this with the situation where a couple who were essentially well but have chosen to leave this world having, "chosen to peacefully end their lives!"
    
Sorry, but I understand from a news item on the radio that the couple did this because they wanted to see a change in the law relating to assisted suicide. Well, of course even if there is, they most certainly won't be seeing it will they? Seems that the couple didn't want to reach a stage in their lives where they would have their quality of life 'diminished'.
     
Of course those who support euthansia point to the fact that many people have this concern and want an alternative to suffering unnecessarily whilst those against it make their stand voicing the opposite opinion. But what is the reality?
    
Being involved in palliative care in the dying and seeing what can be done with those who have the 'inconvenience' of growing old I don't see too much merit in this, "Well-founded fear," (to quote a supporter of euthanasia). Still let's change the objective and look a little closer and see if we can spot anything interesting.
     
A while back a young man was hailed as a hero because, having been paralysed in a rugger accident, he took himself off to Switzerland and killed himself. He couldn't cope with the loss of his 'standard of living' and so took the 'brave way out'. Another hero to stand alongside our latest couple of brave people.
    
Now contrast this with Matt Hampson, a young man who had achieved his dream of wearing an England Rugger shirt for real (under -21) only to find himself injured on the pitch, leaving him with the same injuries and paralysed from the neck down. Did this young man reflect upon the loss of his 'quality of life' and weel his way to Switzerland. Did he decide that he wanted to leave before the going got too tough. Not on your life!
     
This young man has pulled his life back together and now coaches and has chosen to get busy by getting on and living. I have met young men who have lost eyesight, limbs and been horribly injured in the service of their country and to be honest their guts and drive make me look like a big girl.
     
Life is life as long as we have it and people have within them the ability (regardless of faith affiliations - some or none) to get it on and bring life in all its fulness. Look at Phil Packer, a man who having been told he'd never walk again managed to complete the London marathon course in thirteen days. Not a world record but yet another testimony to life being lived out in all its fulness and these two men are not alone.
     
All this tosh about choice and quality of life - I was father to a boy who brought much into the lives of others even though he had cerebral palsy and a myriad number of other problems besides. He managed to smile for much of the time and obviously still found some quality of life - O.K., he didn't ever bring in any money, never got any examination certificates and died before he reached ten, but he managed to give life a dignity because of what he  brought out in others.
    
The good news is that I was pro-life before he was born and what I saw in him (and others) only convinced me that this was a right position to take.


Psalm 139 - "all the days numbered for me were written . .  ." convinced me that we take our number at birth and wait to be served. Those who seek to queue-jump, like those who do the same with queues for clubs, will have to discuss their actions with the man at the door. I hope they find Him more accommodating that the big blokes we have outside the clubs here!