Respect!

For those who take the trouble to check my blog site from time to time, sorry it's been 2 weeks since my last posting. Today's thoughts have been rattling around since then - but a TV programme last night prompted me to try and put thoughts into words.

The events of Remembrance Day are now 2 weeks old. While participating in the Concert of Remembrance at Leigh on Sea the concept of 'honour and respect' hit me afresh. As I watched the Whitehall Parade on TV the next day I saw thousands of servicemen, present day and veterans, all willing to make a commitment in service of Queen and country. I marvelled at the sense of respect that has motivated service through the years and which continues to stimulate service personnel to lay their lives on the line for the on-going conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The very same weekend I opened the paper to read the all too familiar reports of Princes William, Harry and friends spending what to most of us is a small fortune (£2,500 being the quoted bar bill that night) on a drunken evening out at a night club. I'm neither a Royalist or a Republican, but I found myself wondering whether respect for King and country will be so easily generated by future servicemen and women once Queen Elizabeth is no longer our Monarch?

Last night Lyn and I had the privilege of sitting in front of a roaring log fire at a B&B on a working farm in Norfolk. We watched a programme on BBC called 'The Royal family at work'. In truth, it was a documentary about the Queen; following her and Prince Phillip as they undertook a State visit to the USA last year.

The money and effort invested to make the event successful by both the British and American people was probably far greater than the annual budget of many small nations. No stone was left unturned to ensure things ran smoothly. Plans were laid months in advance, rehearsals took place and people travelled miles just to grab the slightest glimpse of the Queen of England. The sense of determination to make sure everything was perfect was unbelievable.

Bear in mind that this elderly lady possesses little if no power at all (in the political sense) why on earth should the most powerful nation in the world grind to a virtual standstill to pay tribute to an 80-year old woman?

Interviews with stakeholders and witnesses drew widely varying responses, but the concept of respect for the position ("she's the Queen of England"!) - allied with a similar respect for the Queen as an individual ("she's a marvellous woman"), came through strongly and clearly.

Which brings me to my thoughts (and if you are still reading at this point, thanks for sticking with it!!). Is respect something simply bestowed or something that has to be earned? Initially, when elected into a position (such as Prime Minister or Territorial Commander), or inheriting a title (such as Queen or King) one can be treated with respect. Those around show respect for the title, the rank or the position. But I believe this is a different quality from the respect which is earned as a result of continually demonstrated and displayed qualities of character and behaviour.

During the next month Salvationists will be on the streets again, in public view while carolling or leading Christmas concerts. Many who take the trouble to drop a pound in the collecting box will do so out of a sense of respect for the organisation or the work they think we do. Do we warrant this respect - either organisationally or individually? What do you and I as individualls actually do to warant such respect?

I confess, when I read the antics of our young Princes I struggle to generate any sense of respect. Their position should warrant it but their behaviour certainly doesn't earn it as far as I am concerned and I fear for the future of our Monarchy and the corresponding reduction in respect for the English nation.

How about God? His position certainly warrants our respect. His character, demonsatrated actions and displayed commitment to us surely warrant our respect. Despite this, He never demands it - we have free will and the right to choose.

Joshua 24:15 says, 'But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." (New International Version)

I've rambled - and probably haven't explained myself very well. Respect? What do you think?

Last Saturday I participated in a Remembrance Concert at Leigh on Sea. It featured the united bands of Leigh and Southend Citadel, vocal and cello soloists plus contributions from the local corps of the Sea Cadets. It was superb - probably the most dignified and respectful service of it's type I have ever attended in an Army hall. Despite the quasi military style of our church, the dignity that comes with military pomp and decorum is something we seem reluctant to embrace. Saturday evening's concert was respectful, dignified and yet personal.

During the service the poem 'In Flanders Field' was read. I've heard it many times before. Whether it was the presentation or the circumstance, I don't know, but the powerful words of this poem struck me afresh - especially the challenge of the last verse. Written many decades ago by a medic serving in the 1st World War. I share them with you here and ask, if you have time, to read them through slowly and considerately and ask what they say to us in this generation.

In Flanders Fields

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.

By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918) Canadian Army

The good Samaritan is not dead!

Last night, as Lyn was almost home, she came towards the traffic lights on the A127. Feeding into the 'turn left' lane she discovered her route blocked by a broken down car. The vehicles in front of her just drove around the obstacle. As she came up to the car she saw the driver, an elderly man, stood by the side of his car, looking helpless. As she pulled alongside him she wound down the window and asked if he was OK. He wasn't!

'I've broken down and don't know what to do', he replied.

Lyn pulled around the corner, stopped the car, grabbed a passer by and the two of them pushed the car away from the busy junction and into the forecourt of Kwik Fit, where they called the AA to come and help.

But that's not the whole point of the story.

A man came past with his 2 young children. He asked what was wrong and if he could help. When he discovered what was happening he gave the driver his Nokia N95 phone, showed him how to use it and said, 'hang on to this until you are sorted. Here's my address, just drop it in later when the car is going again'. And off he went, leaving a £300 phone with someone he had never met before.

Lyn came home, made a coffee and took it, with some cake, back to the driver to keep him going while he waited. When she got there she found he was wearing a nice coat.

'A driver saw me by the side of the road, pulled up, gave me his warm coat and just drove off', said the old guy. He was obviously stunned by this unexpected kindness.

Despite the ignorance of those who had initially just driven around the broken down vehicle without offering any help, I was proud of the way people had then rallied around to help.

The age of the good Samaritan is not dead!

Joke of the day

Hi - no 'thought' today - just a quick joke I heard earlier:

A farmer goes out to his field one morning only to find all of his cows frozen solid. As far as the eye can see the cows, are motionless like statues. It had been a bitterly cold night, but he'd never thought anything like this would happen.

The realisation of the situation then dawned on him. With his entire livestock gone, how would he make ends meet? How would he feed his wife and kids? How would he pay the mortgage?He sat with his head in his hands, trying to come to terms with his impending poverty.

Just then, an elderly woman walked by, "What's the matter?" asked the old lady.The farmer gestured toward the frozen cows and explained his predicament to the woman. Without hesitation the old woman smiled and began to rub one of the cows noses. After a few seconds the cow began to twitch and was soon back to normal and chewing the cud.

One by one, the old woman defrosted the cows until the whole field was full of healthy animals. The farmer was delighted and asked the woman what she wanted as a repayment for her deed. She declined his offer and walked off across the field.

A passer-by who had witnessed the whole thing approached the farmer."You know who that was don't you?" asked the passer-by.

"No" said the farmer "who?"

"That was Thora Hird."