November 11, 2025

Dear Friends,

It was the middle of a conversation. I was talking about two young men who are very dear to me — one of my grandsons and his very good friend —and I couldn’t remember their names. I could see their faces in my mind, knew all kinds of facts about them but couldn’t remember their names in that moment. Honestly, it was a bit troubling.

I’ve noticed that momentary blanking a bit more as I’ve grown older. It’s subtlety unnerving at first but I’ve learned to just wait a fraction longer than I used to have to wait (actually, I never used to have to wait at all) and, sure enough, the brain catches up and my recall returns. Still, when it occurs, that momentary blip reminds me of how important memories are to a life well-lived.

Today is “Remembrance Day.” It’s tempting to make it about celebrating those who have served our country or about the importance of our modern military or about creating lasting peace. But that was not the original intent.

Armistice Day, as it was first called, came into being to fulfill two functions: to remember those fallen in war (WW1, to be exact); to remember the horror and carnage of war. Occasionally, a third element was added — a call to embrace peace. More than anything else, it was a national call to count the cost of the freedom that is so easily taken for granted and to remember those who paid the ultimate price for that freedom. It was a reminder to keep faith with those who died, those with whose lives our freedom was hard won.

This same theme appears in the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy. Israel was to remember what God did to ensure their freedom. They, too, had a ceremony of memory and gratitude called Passover. A designated lamb was killed in remembrance.

Of course, for Christians, Jesus was that ultimate Passover lamb by which our ultimate freedom was purchased for all eternity. He also gave us a ceremony of remembrance.

Yesterday, Sharon and I celebrated 46 years of marriage. What a blessing it has been to learn to love over all these years. What a blessing to delight in two succeeding generations! Yet, none of this would have happened without Jesus. He saved us in places far removed from each other. He called us to the same bible college. He drew us into loving each other. He sustained us and carried burdens that overwhelmed at times. He gave us this great family of believers who have nurtured us over all these years. I remember it all with gratitude. What do you remember? How does that great death and resurrection affect your life today? Pause for two minutes to honor our fallen; then pause for two more to honor the Saviour who has given you so much.

Blessings!

Doug