Twenty million, the estimated number of people killed in the first world war. Fifty-five million, the estimated number of people killed in the second world war. Estimated because no one will ever know the real number.
To ring a bell once a second, to remember the deaths of each of those killed in the two world wars alone it would take two point three years. And that just to remember the deaths of the soldiers, and civilians in two world wars that took place prior to the first half of the twentieth century.
Since then untold thousands if not millions have died as a result of small wars, in what has been called the bloodiest century in history.
War is a terrible thing forced on peace loving men and women by despots who deal in hate.
Rabbi Abb Hillel Silver said,
“There is one other fundamental difference between love and hate. Love is always a refuge. Hate is never a refuge. Only a mentally sick person can find refuge in his hates. But love is the enduring sanctuary of life. Life may rob you of many things. It often does. But it can never bereave us of love itself. That remains.
-Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver, rabbinic leader, from a December 22, 1940, sermon,
The writer of Proverbs wrote,
“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.”
Proverbs 3:3,4
No one who has ever forced war on someone has ever been called good or called a man of peace. For to impose war on anyone is to break the commandment “do not kill”.
Sadly in the last century and now in this, the peace loving nations are being forced to take up arms to protect our freedoms.
The killing of Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent, age 53, in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, south of Montreal and Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, 24, a reservist based out of Hamilton, Ontario, on duty at the National war memorial in Ottawa. Illustrates that we must be vigilant.
The terrorist group that inspired the killers of these two men are not men of God. They are at best misguided at worst instruments of Satan himself.
We as Christians must stand up to such people. We must support our troops who defend our freedoms.
While I am not a Canadian I am thankful and proud that I come from a country and can live in this country, where young men and women like Warrant officer Vicent and Corporal Cirillo stand on guard that I may live in peace.
Today if you can take time to attend a remembrance day service in your town or city. If that’s not possible watch on television.
Either way as you go about your daily tasks take two minutes to simply be silent and pray for our men and women not only in the military, but for first responders, police, fire fighters, and paramedics. All of whom make our lives as individuals a safer and better place to live.
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