I recently visited King Island, Tasmania, for the 10th Anniversary of the openning of the new All Saints Anglican Church building. The previous one was destroyed by fire.
BCA Missioners, Revd Rod & Chris Oldfield, are heavily involved in Island life and ministry. Amidst my visit with Services of Confirmation and the 10th Anniversary Celebrations, hospital visits, a 90th birthday, buying King Island cheese for Church Office and home; Rod mentioned his new blog! – Just shows that there is time for everything! 😉
Rod’s blog article on ANZAC Day has a King Island connection due to war photographer, Damion Parer, who had strong links with King Island.
Damien Parer recognised the danger to our nation of being complacent. Even with the imminent that Japan entering the war presented: life went on in Australia in relatively comfortable and most people did not realize the danger they were in or what the soldiers were going through. Damien gave his life warning people and filming scenes struggle the soldiers faced that was going on to preserve their freedom and safety.
Rod Oldfield also reflects on the phrase, “Lest we forget” – where have those words come from and why are they used on War memorials.
It comes from a poem written by Rudyard Kipling to commemorate Queen Victoria’ Diamond Jubilee is 1897. Kipling recognized that England was in some danger. All Empires when they rise in wealth and power tend to begin forgetting about God and boasting about their own efforts to achieve greatness. The Recessional:
God of our fathers, known of old… Lord of our far-flung battle line… Beneath whose awful hand we hold Dominion over palm and pine… Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, Lest we forget–lest we forget!
The tumult and the shouting dies… The Captains and the Kings depart… Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice, An humble and a contrite heart. Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, Lest we forget–lest we forget!
The ancient sacrifice Kipling speaks of is God’s own sacrifice of himself upon a cross.
Rudyard Kipling also recognized a different sort of complacency (to that of Damion Parer) … and the need to remind people of the danger they were in when they forgot about God and took their good fortune for granted.
Each generation seems can become complacent, there is a constant need for the world to be reminded that there is one who is ultimately responsible, one who one day we will all need to stand before and give an account to … God.
For the full and fascinating ANZAC Reflection from Rod Oldfield, ANZAC Day: Damion Parer.
