Let's Remember

We had a wonderful service at church today. It is so nice that Remembrance Day falls on a Sunday this year. I love the image of Jesus giving His life for our spiritual freedom paralleling the sacrifice our soldiers gave and continue to give for our physical freedom.

One of the members of our church is in the RCMP, and he helped lead our service today. It was very moving as he spoke of all the people in the military and police force who serve everyday to help people who can't help themselves and to help us keep our freedom, often giving their lives for us. I am always moved to tears when I sing "O Canada", especially when we get to the part where it says, "God keep our land glorious and free, O Canada we stand on guard for thee." We do need to stand on guard to protect our freedom and to make sure those who are not free can become so. I am so thankful to our military and police forces who stand up for freedom everyday. Let us not forget them.

I have always loved this poem. Please take a moment to consider its words again:

In Flanders Fields

by John McCrae, May 1915

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep,
though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.