Jono Miller

The Bugler lifts his trumpet to his lips and the eerie yet familiar sounds of the Last Post echo through the crisp morning air. Heads bowed we stand in silence, remembering the fallen.

They shall grow not old,
as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them,
nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun
and in the morning
We will remember them.

I took Jesse and Marie Gollan and Brod and Bron Crowe to their first ever Remembrance Day service. They were pleased to meet real live soldiers from many countries. They enjoyed learning something new about their world. They were glad of a day out and another life enriching experience. I think best of all they enjoyed laying their wreaths at the altar of American Imperialism (a.k.a. - a trip to McDonalds).

I am a pacifist - and I believe today was important. Can I fully understand my beliefs about war? Not yet. I know I detest it. As I seek to know the heart and mind of Jesus - I believe this is the way He chooses for me to view my world.

Albert Einstein wrote: "how despicable and ignoble war is; I would rather be torn to shreds than be a part of so base an action. It is my conviction that killing under the cloak of war is nothing but an act of murder."

Life has many questions. I don't know all the answers. I believe war is not the answer. I don't know that pacifism is the answer. Life is more complicated than that. So I must have a solid base. Greater than myself, greater than all of mankind's noble deeds and noble people. On Christ the solid Rock I stand - all other ground is sinking sand.

In a collection of short stories I recently read the following seven connected statements:

1. Everything we grasp with our conscious mind is merely an assertion.

2. Some of these assertions are false, while others are true.

3. With an eye to the above, we reject the false assertions and embrace the true assertions. In short, the way in which we judge our assertions bears within it the possibility of the search for truth.

4. Man is the only living creature endowed with the capacity of searching for truth, because only he can reject or embrace a given possibility. Thus, truth is embodied in the image of the thinking man.

5. This capacity of ours has made it possible for us to triumph over the forces of nature, to cure the sick, to put and end to slavery, to love our neighbours as ourselves, and to plan the future with a view towards bringing about the best of all possible worlds.

6. In this manner, we have thus wiped hatred and sin, war and strife, sadness and penury off the face of the earth and are living in good cheer, security and happiness.

7. Provided our sense of judgment will not be impaired, this state of well being should hold out for all time to come.