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?