It starts for me with the knowledge that I am in the place I am supposed to be. Something I never thought I would feel at the cathedral, but something I am extremely grateful for.
"It was the 70th Anniversary of the "Battle of Britain", which took place in the skies over Britain in the summer of 1940 and is considered by many to have been the most significant battle of the Second World War. The defense of the skies over Britain rested on the shoulders of a gallant group of fighter pilots from Britain and the Commonwealth who succeeded in their task of thwarting the Luftwaffe, and averting a Nazi invasion which would, in all probability, have taken place, thereby changing the history of our world."
Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few ~ Winston Churchill
It is at this time that we also stop in church and give prayer and thanks for the pilots in harm's way on the many missions undertaken by the Canadian Forces around the world, and particularly in Afghanistan.
The Recessional Hymn today was one based on an old melody (for those in peril on the sea) but was altered many many years ago for those who had flown. The fourth verse snuck up on me.
We thank You, Father, for the days
Of golden dawns and sunsets' rays
Accept our praise, O Lord we pray
And guide us on Your chosen way.
Be with us, Father, as we rise
To brave the challenge of the skies.
My own father, who is never truly far from my thoughts, has been in them a great deal lately. A little more than usual, I would say. I have heard his voice giving me his perspective on things that I am dealing with, and hearing his corny old expressions whenever they are suitable to the conversation. Last night my sisters and I were working with a challenge of sorts and again, we referenced, "how would he have said this, if he were still alive?"
So, this morning, with the cathedral full of aviators in their crisp uniforms, fly boys for us to put a human face to it all, I could not help but think of Dad and his love of flying, and while the words of the last verse were being sung I choked back huge sobs (I was trying to make a baby laugh so....) as waves of memories flooded my conscious mind. I was suddenly filled with gratitude and awe at the wonder of being able to have flown with my Dad so many
times. It's easy to forget about, but it was the very best thing I ever experienced with him and I've always wished I could do it one more time. I left the church and came out into the warm sunshine and knew it would have been a great day to have gotten in a plane with him.I turned the corner on to our street and the whole of the armed forces that had been in our church today were over at the Cathedral's graveyard to place their memorial over there. The lone trumpeter played the most beautiful and lingering Reveille I had ever heard. Thank you for that.
Thank you, Dad, for taking me on that adventure with you and sharing one of your great joys with me, I am eternally grateful.
Thank you, Father in Heaven, for taking me on an even greater adventure with you, and for sharing joy when you gave us Jesus. I am eternally grateful.
My heart is full and I wish I knew how to share it better. I hope and pray the people around me will help me as I learn how to love more fully, more openly, with more bravery.
Be with us, Father, as we rise
To brave the challenge of the skies.
