Last night I went to bed early and slept late, after switching on the radio for 'Thought for the Day', then falling asleep again, so I benefited from a good long night's sleep. Again, rain at night, dry with the odd shower all day. I spent the morning re-writing a sermon for Remembrance Sunday around the readings for the day. based on ideas first expressed six years ago on Remembrance Sunday in Mojacar, but in need of adapting to quite a different setting and time.
Sometimes it's easier to start a sermon from scratch, but these are dark times. Back then it was possible to reflect in a more positive way on how the impact of war on society has changed during my lifetime. Still terrible numbers of casualties, but a tenth of the number lost in the great World Wars in the years since the UN was founded.
Yes, it's not good enough, but the key to preventing wars is in just and equal treatment for all people. If there's mutual prosperity, resentments don't breed in the same way and lead to violence. It's a simple lesson, which prophetic scripture points towards. But the lessons still haven't been learned or accepted universally. The more we invest in tackling the rich-poor divide, aiming at equality, the more peacemaking will bear fruit. Conflict in the Holy Land is an example of the rejection of this understanding. Undoing the physical, moral and spiritual damage of this war is going to take a very long time.
Clare went out to the Optometrists for a vision checkup this morning and didn't return until early afternoon so I made myself a lightweight pasta with veggie sauce for lunch, to prepared for the evening's banquet. I went for an hour's walk before taking time to get into my formal evening dress kit in order to leave on time for the United Services Mess dinner at the Angel Hotel in town.
The scheduled bus at ten past six didn't come, so I walked to Cowbridge Road and caught a 17 from then. In the queue in front of us as we left the stop, was the next 61 bus, arriving at Cowbridge Road East at much the same time. The printed timetable on the stop bears no resemblance to reality, and can't be relied on, especially in the evenings.
I was about ten minutes late arriving for the pre supper reception, and met Cardiff's Lady Mayor, and a number of familiar faces from previous dinners, before we were ushered in to the banqueting hall to the customary ritual hand-clapping. Our guest of Honour and after dinner speaker was Air Vice-Marshal Ian Townsend with general oversight of Britain's military establishments and training programme. He was raised on a Bristol housing estate and flew fast jets on active service for most of his career, being raised through the ranks meanwhile for his leadership ability and thinking. A remarkable story of one entrusted with key roles in the continuing evolution of Britain's defence capability. Interesting to learn at the reception that in his down-time he's a sports referee.
His speech was impressive in painting a big picture of the armed forces in which all participants are to be equally valued. Mutual interdependence in the duty of serving the country is at the core of military strength. True also in the life of the church, though this often seems to be forgotten. He observed that from the defence perspective there's more than meets the eye to be concerned about in the condition of civil society than wars in Ukraine and Palestine. I think he was talking about terrorism, but he didn't elaborate. The food and wine (Chilean) was good and plentiful, the food for thought even more so.
Saying the Grace I composed earlier in the day, for 150 diners raised a loud Amen. It occurred to me that it's one of the biggest congregations I've ever prayed with! For the first time in twenty years I think, I spoke the venerable memorial stanza from the hymn 'O valiant hearts' in the dark from memory with confidence without fluffing my lines. Quite a personal achievement for me.
I didn't stay on for a nightcap at the Mess, but walked along the route of the 61 bus and picked one up that got me home before eleven, after an enjoyable evening, performing the traditional Mess Chaplain's role in the company of a fine bunch of men and (these days) women. An honour and a privilege.
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