‘ Gave their tomorrow for our today’.

One hundred and four years ago this month my uncle Fred wrote a last letter to his mother which began with the words’ when you read this letter I shall be dead.’ He then lead his platoon of men out of their trenches to certain death he was 23 years old. All wars are terrible but the First World War that killed Fred stands out as being one of quite exceptional slaughter and wretchedness in which 8.5 million combatants lost their lives. Today in ceremonies such as Remembrance Sunday we look up to and give thanks for their sacrifice.Why ? What is it that makes our collection of selfish genes salute and stand in awe of a sacrifice which was so totally altruistic. What makes a man  die for a nebulous belief that has no physical reality whatsoever and demands life itself in return for an ideal , a hope that he can never feel or touch but that he knows is real and of more worth than life itself.

Jesus understood that man has a need for something greater than himself’ Greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for his friends’ that living life for the self the now is wrong as it takes away the majesty of the human spirit. There has never in history been a time like the present where people are so caught up with their own lives. ‘ I and mine’ rules supreme Facebook and the like are the ultimate manifestations of a world that orbits itself. I see Christ’s whole life as a demonstration of another path. God gave his son , we should be prepared to give ourselves.

But why ? I think it is Gods reminder that our lives are not just this mortal coil but something more.The stirring in my heart when I think of uncle Fred was because his sacrifice pointed not towards our end but our beginning.