Important to reflect on past victories in face of new challenges, says Sheffield minister

Veterans during the 2019 Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph memorial in Westminster

Prior to that, she had a week of preparation being refreshed in the discipline of marching, then at the Albert Hall, an early-morning rehearsal followed by two performances.

The following day was the march to the Cenotaph followed by at least three hours of standing in the guard of honour as the parade of those with poppy wreaths marched by.

My daughter said how exhausting the whole thing was, particularly the pain of standing completely still for so many hours.

But then she said something that brought it home to me why remembering is so important.

She spoke of those old servicemen in their wheelchairs going past her with their medals of honour and their poppy wreaths.

And just in front of where she was standing on guard, the men would get out of their wheelchairs and despite their frailty, their pride and their honour of representing those who died in conflict, gave them strength to walk the final stretch up to the cenotaph to lay their wreath and pay their respect.

My daughter reflected on how powerful that was and it brought it home to her why she and her fellow service people had spent an intense week of preparation for that moment.

Because these people are the remnant of those who have died in conflict to win the freedom from oppressive regimes that we enjoy today.

The Bible – look up Joshua 4vs4-7 – also teaches us that before we face the next challenges ahead of us, it is good to stop and even build a monument of remembrance for those times when victory has been won and freedom preserved.

It is a place to take our children to remind them what was achieved and that in turn gives us a God given strength to faces that challenges that currently face us now.

Despite current hardships that face us at the moment, may we pause and reflect.

“We will remember them.”

The Reverend Jonathan Haigh is a minister at Victoria Hall Methodist Church, Sheffield city centre, and Greenhill Methodist Church – see greenhillmethodistchurch.com