Dear friend
Standing silently at a war memorial today, I was thinking of my grandfather who died and was buried in a field in France at the end of the Second World War. It was a cold, damp and overcast day; probably both then as now. Fallen leaves were strewn on the ground, left to lay where they landed. A crow provided an ambient craw to add to the atmosphere of funereal poignancy. Remembrance Sunday has its very own texture and mood.
There is a rather overused descriptor for soldiers and the like; it's "heroes". While many acts of selfless bravery certainly occur during active service, most military people I've spoken with seem reluctant or reticent about adopting the label. But be they heralded heroes or simply men and women "doing their duty", surely it is fitting to dedicate a few minutes to remember and give thanks for the sacrifice of those who didn't return.
Later I spent time looking up scriptures and quotes about war, soldiers and battles. I rediscovered a passage in the New Testament, 2 Timothy 2:1-4.
1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
The Apostle Paul referred to young Timothy as a soldier, even a good soldier, a soldier of Jesus Christ. The duty of these soldiers is to please the One who chose him/us to be just such a recruit. The main weapon is strength derived from Grace. The experience includes enduring "hardness" (afflictions, vexations). I think the analogy works well.
Can we appropriately and respectfully apply the designation of soldier to ourselves? I think so. The battle is not to the death, but to life, eternal life. And our mission is to endure so as to please our Commander.
Samuel.
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