Armistice Day
11th November 2024
The Royal British Legion note,
At the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month – we will remember them.
The Armistice, an agreement to end the fighting of the First World War as a prelude to peace negotiations, began at 11am on 11 November 1918.
Armistice is Latin for to stand (still) arms.
To this day we mark Armistice Day around the United Kingdom with a Two Minute Silence at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month.
Services to mark Armistice Day took place at various hospitals throughout the Health Board this morning. I was assigned Ysbyty Cwm Cynon. A hospital I've been to only a couple of times. It was a really lovely place to go as a chaplain and I was very much welcomed in my role to officiate in this way.
And it was a simple but poignant service. Hearing the last post is always hauntingly beautiful. There is something distinct about stopping together for these couple of minutes.
As I read the Royal British Legion’s explanation of the day above, I'm all the more drawn to the stillness that comes when fighting ceases. May we usher in together a negotiation of peace in this fraught world.
Later on, I was back at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital for the communion service, which has become something I very much look forward too. We played this song before we gathered around the table.
And it was accompanied by this bible reading.
One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23:39-43 ESV
I was led to highlight, both the penitent thief's request, ‘remember me’ and Jesus’ reply of, paradise today. As opposed to paradise lost.
Speaking of which, here's a tiny fragment from John Milton’s epic poem, of that name.
The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven…
John Milton, Paradise Lost
I am consistently moving between these two axis.
Some of the song lyrics from Remembrance, say,
As far as heights reach from the depths
As far as east is from the west
So far Your grace has carried me
Life is this tightrope walk. A series of pivots and adaptations. I sat with a young gentleman today who has had a life altering injury, something that many veterans have had to come to terms with themselves, and I was humbled by his grace. His excitement for discharge. To walk into the unknown. I don't suppose we know what we're capable of until we have to face the unexpected.
I must share this wonderful poem by my friend, Jez Green. I've included his substack post for you to read below, I would highly recommend it.
This poem caught my eye, my mind and something of my soul over the weekend and I think it fits well in the tone of my day and to wrap up this reflection. Jez’s post has sparked a number of thoughts that I'm keen to explore with you as the week continues to unfold. For now, The Pear of Great Price.
The Pearl of Great Price
One soul that dwells in each of us,
beyond all human harm.
Three elements to mythic tales:
soul knows that three's a charm.
One image from before our life,
a golden wreath to seek,
a treasure that we'll gladly pay
our life to find and keep.
The image leads us to our king,
to purpose and to love;
the curse will steal this king from us
and hide him high above.
The work of love produces gifts
and these will help our quest -
to overcome the curse's hold
and pass through every test.
The inner union that we seek
is won through many things:
the gifts we give, the love we share,
the song our soul still sings.
We cannot keep our lives away
from suffering, longing, grief:
we must not lock ourselves away
to try and foil the Thief!
Allow the magic of the myths
to wrestle with your sorrows,
and by the road of grit and soul,
create your best tomorrows.
—Jez Green
To find paradise in the midst of suffering, to carry with you the teeth of grief, to hold the tension of today and tomorrow, these are the kind of things we navigate with people as chaplains. I think that each of us is invited to our own personal armistice day.