‘Remember, remember the fifth of November…’. The bonfire and fireworks are barely over when we arrive at Remembrance Day. This is the day when throughout the commonwealth people stop and stand in silence for 2 minutes to remember the millions killed, injured and affected, originally by WWI. Now this is extended to include all conflicts since WWI. Silence is a rare commodity these days, and maybe this increases its power. For as we stand together in silence, memories flood our minds. And as we stand in silence we are united in our grief and compassion, as we know that

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13).

And also in November, the month for remembering, we will celebrate Holy Communion. As we eat the broken bread and drink the wine, we do so, remembering what Jesus Christ did for us.

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8).

We all have memories, both good and bad, but if we allow silence to unite us, rather than using words which tend to divide, maybe we can all learn to, in the words of John Lennon’s song “Give peace a chance”. When we learn to live at peace within ourselves, we will be better able to live at peace with our neighbours. If peace is allowed to grow, maybe one day November will be a month to remember life and not death.

May God’s light and life be with any readers of An Tirisdeach who welcome it, Elspeth. (Rev Elspeth MacLean, Tiree Parish Church, tel 220377.)