Lest we forget!

Rudyard Kipling wrote the poem Recessional in 1897 in celebration of Quenn Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. His words reflect on the transient nature of power and concentrate on the importance of humilty. He reminds us of the impermanence of empire, contrasting the then British Empire with ancient civilisations of Nineveh and Tyre. He calls for divine guidance suggesting that human achievements are insignificant without spiritual grounding. Kipling alerts us to the dangers of placing trust in military might and material power. Perhaps nothing changes from ages past to the present time. Today, all around us we see the thirst for power, might, pride and self worship. Kipling himself, in this poem and in many of his poems, displays a degree of arrogance and bias in demeaning others, note verse 4 below. We all have much to guard against! In this season of Thanksgiving, when we are mindful of how much we can be grateful for, let us not forget the source of life and love and our need for spiritual direction.

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!

Far-called, our navies melt away;
On dune and headland sinks the fire:
Lo, all our pomp of yesterday
Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!
Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!

If, drunk with sight of power, we loose
Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe,
Such boastings as the Gentiles use,
Or lesser breeds without the Law—
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!

For heathen heart that puts her trust
In reeking tube and iron shard,
All valiant dust that builds on dust
And guarding, calls not Thee to guard,
For frantic boast and foolish word—
Thy mercy on Thy People, Lord! Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936).

Prayer:
Our Father,
who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation; but devilver us from evil:
for thine is the kingdom , and the power, and the glory
For ever and ever Amen.