Thought for the Week

The old soldier straightened his medals again as he looked in the mirror. Where had his youth gone, he pondered. His taxi arrived and he asked the young driver to take him to the cenotaph. As they drove, the old soldier thought the young driver was about the same age as he was when he joined up and his mind drifted back to his days in the trenches. They chatted easily and when they arrived at the cenotaph, the young man got out of the cab, came round to open the door for the old soldier and as he did so he stood to attention and gave a smart salute. The old soldier reached for his wallet and asked how much he owed the young driver. The response was this: ‘Sir, you do not owe me anything, but I owe you everything.’ On Sunday we enter a week of remembering. We reflect on so much as we approach that moment which will take us to the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. That day which is forever etched in hearts and history. It is a time not only of national, but of international mourning for the loss of so many young lives. It is a time for reflection, for thoughtfulness and for that hope that it will not happen again. This week we think about those who are ‘there but not there’. All week Clachan’s church will be open for private reflection with a display of memorabilia and each evening from 7pm there will be a short time of remembering together. On Saturday, at 7.30am as the sky lightens, we will reflect on those who were shot at dawn.