November 12th

To Remember...

To my dear TFMC family,

Lately, I’ve found myself conflicted about Remembrance Day.

On one hand, I believe it’s vital that we remember our history — the horrors of war, the inhumanity, the slaughter, the heartbreak, and the pain. Growing up, that’s what I recall Remembrance Day emphasizing: how terrible war is, and why we must never seek it again. From recitals of “Where Have All the Young Men Gone?” to the steady refrain “Lest we forget,” I have deeply appreciated this side of Remembrance Day.

On the other hand, as we move further from the world wars — and as fewer veterans remain with us — the focus seems to have shifted. We hear less about the horrors of war, and more we hear about the sacrifice, and honor of these soldiers; we hear more praise for the lives given to assure our freedom.  While I understand the gratitude behind this, it also troubles me. It rubs me the wrong way, because it feels to me like we’re remembering the wrong lessons.  Admittedly, my perspective is shaped by being part of the peace church tradition.

In the late 1980’s in response to Remembrance Day, and to accompany the Poppy that’s often worn around this time of the year, MCC released their Peace Button.  A red button, with the simple words, ‘to remember is to work for peace.”  And I find that button extremely empowering.

Sometimes working for peace feels like just that, work.  It sometimes feels big, huge, overwhelming, out of reach.  This button taught me, and continues to teach me, that as long as I remember, truly remember,I am also working for peace.  It reminds me that to remember the ‘why’ of Remembrance Day is an act of peace.  It’s not a day of celebration, but rather, it’s a day of lament, a day of sorrow, a day to remember what can happen if…

We are a part of the peace church movement.  We believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.  We believe Jesus’ message was one of peace, non-violence, wholeness and healing.  We believe that the peace which Jesus shared, and taught, is both a foretaste and the epitome of God’s Dream. And I think remembering goes both ways, to remember God’s Dream, Jesus’ teachings, and living in light of it, is another way to work for peace.  

In his 1905 work The Life of Reason, philosopher George Santayana, writes: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”  If humanity is not careful, we are bound to repeat the shameful and sorrowful history of our forebearers.  To remember is to work for peace.

The role of the peace church, I believe, is more important now than ever.  With the winds of Christiain Nationalism blowing, the increase in military spending, and with year long and even decades long conflicts festering, the voice of peace is needed more than ever; the voice of peace must not be silent. Whether we express that message through our words, our actions, or our presence — it is a message the world desperately needs to hear.

Yours, in peace,

Craig Janzen Neufeld, Pastor