Standing in the Light

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly.

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead.
Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
By: Lt. Col. John McCrae, M.D., 1872-1918


I've been thinking about this poem.

A first cousin of my father's was killed and buried in France in 1944. He was an American, and his name was Vincent Kleine. My father's name, as well as mine, is also quite German. I have no doubt my father had more distant cousins fighting for the German side.... and some more distant cousins who died in the camps that Hitler made.

The folly of it all. Cousins killing cousins, both sides convinced that "God is on our side".

But getting back to the poem:"take up our quarrel with the foe, to you from failing hands we throw - The torch: be yours, to hold it high...."

This poet said the fallen soldiers threw us a torch... a light... not a gun, not a cannon, not a sword, not a weapon of war, .... but a torch, to hold high, so that those who died can rest in peace.

A light, to illuminate this darkness called violence and war.

And in this season of celebration of light... (the solstice, the menorah, the light of Jesus -who was born in the spring, I believe-, and Kwanzaa) .... all are based on light, in one way or another. A light that is a miracle, or a light that is guidance, or a Light sent to redeem the world, or the light of the returning sun. The last one would be the original celebration, which I believe the Christians co-opted. And the Solstice is a fine holiday. Without the return of longer days and warmer weather, we would have perished long ago. The lengthening of the days was a sure sign of hope.

I attend Quaker meetings for worship. They are based on the teachings and life of Jesus, yet they do not have services for his birth. They consider such activities, and the hoopla that goes with it, to be "populist". They do believe that all human beings have the spark of divine Light in them, and that superficial celebrations and rituals usually just obsure that connection with the Light of God. They also believe that the truth of God is still being revealed, so we are open to learning from other religions and spiritual practices.

In meeting for worship, we "hold people in the Light" when we pray for them. We hold them in our thoughts and concerns and the healing power of God, the Light of the world.

May the Light shine on you and yours this holiday season, as we attempt to hold the torch high, that is the light of truth, and the Light of the divine.

May we not break faith with the fallen.

May we find the light of truth and the light of love to overcome those who have lost the way, and have led us into war yet again.

dancewater