Remembering

It has been some time since I thought to add my thoughts to the blog. I guess that life has genrally got in the way. When I began blogging back in the beginning, I was about to begin a late 50's career change. I moved from the volunteer sector to the breakfast line in a local resurarant. I guess that this has left little time for me to put thoughts on paper. However, a couple of things have led to this moment: a woman by the name of Beth responded to a blog I wrote in September of 2007 to say, "glad that you wrote this," and I wondered how many others might be interested in my thought process; I am re-reading a book by an old friend-Jim Douglass-called the Non-Violent Cross; and add to these is the fact that today in Rememberance Day-2008 and the 90th aniversary of the end of the first world war. So, I am forced to ask the question: Who do I remember?

Some would say, "Remember family."

OK, do I remember my father who flew in a Lancaster bomber, bombing the hell out of Dresden, or perhaps I should remember my wife's grandfather who served in the German army, fighting on the Russian front, or perhaps I should remember my great grandparents who refused to go to war on biblical principals, risking prison for their choices.

I chose to remember Jesus, Ebed Yahweh-the Servant of the Lord.

Gandhi, who could not claim to be Christian saw the example of Jesus' suffering as the essence of his faith in non-violence. For him the suffering of Jesus so defined the law of love, that love and suffering were seen as one in a single flame of life. "Jesus put in a picturesque and telling manner the great doctrine of non-violent non-cooperation. Your non-cooperation with your opponent is violent when you give a blow for a blow, and is ineffective in the long run. Your non-cooperation is non-violent when you give your opponent all in the place of just what he needs. You have disarmed him once for all by your apparent cooperation, which in effect is complete non-cooperation" (Prabhu-What Jesus means to Me) p. 39. "Men commit acts of violence and injustice against other men," so writes Jim Douglass, "only to the extent that they do not regard them as fully human" ( Douglass, The Non-Violent Cross) p. 71. Because he envisioned the face of God as truth, Gandhi found that the God of truth was found in the God of suffering love. Face to face with Jesus on the cross-Ebed Yahweh-the Son of Man, individually, in Jesus; and collectively in his community of disciples, therein we remember.

I spent a difficult night last night. I often prepare supper for the family and last night, none of my three children partook of the meal. I took it personal; and in asking the Father, this morning, What do you think I should do? The answer came clear as the TV blared the trumpet sound of rememberance: "A person might have to suffer even when he thinks it is unfair, but if he thinks of God, and can stand the pain, God is pleased. So if you are beaten for doing wrong, there is no reason to praise you for being patient in your punishment. But if you suffer for doing good, and you are patient, then God is pleased. This is what you were called to do, because Christ suffered for you and gave you an example to follow." So you should do as he did. He never sinned and he never lied. People insulted Christ, but he did not insult them in return. Christ suffered, but he did not threaten. He let God, the one who judges rightly, take care of him" (1 Pet. 2:19-23). I suddenly realized that God was speaking to me! I should be the suffering servant, in my family-a son of man.

So, how does this apply itself to rememberance day? In the sermon on the mount, where Gandhi found the living Christ, Jesus teaches, "You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. But I tell you, Don't stand up against an evil person...love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you..." I find no room here for the evils of war. I find that to work for peace is to remember. When I consider that in both wars I had relatives on both sides of the trenches, I cannot find it in my heart to remember one over the other. Today is rememberance day, let us remember that "in inflicting violence on one another, men know not what they do, for they know not the sacredness of their brothers' and their own humanity, which at its innermost core is one with the humanity of Christ" (ibid) p. 72. Let us remember this not only in times of world conflict, but in our own homes and in our own families. Let us seek peace and pursue it, and by this truly remember.

So, as I prepare to return to the kitchen this afternoon, I want to remember to be a servant of the Lord-a son of man, in my family and in the world; and I want to remember to suffer, even when it fells unfair, to be patient, for then God is pleased.