Forgiveness. For Remembrance Day
The wishes of the dead
Follow the light of the living
The freedom to breathe
Fights with the need to forgive
The longings of the heart
Can deepen our prayers against anger
But words unsaid and hurts remembered
Battle with our need to let the past go
Forgiveness can be difficult to reach
But the sweet silence of peace
Brings a balm to the soul
And a healing to the hereafter
*****
This simple wooden cross that marks the grave of a vicar of Glynde in Sussex, UK, who passed away in 1965 aged 84, was once a serving officer who joined the 1st Gurkha Rifles seeing service in India and Palestine during the Great War. He was invalided out of the army in 1923 and was eventually ordained at York Minster in England in 1932.
Alexander returned to India as a clergyman, serving as an Army Chaplain in Delhi during the Second World War. On returning to England he became at one time the Vicar of Glynde 1951-55.
The Inscription on the cross reads:
“In memory of Rev Lt Col: A.F. INGLIS. Vicar of Glynde 1951-55 died September 9th 1965 Aged 84 years.
Also his wife Anne 1888-1983.
His ashes, along with those of his wife, are buried under this simple cross in the churchyard at Glynde. He lies here with other war dead of the First World War.
What is so incredibly poignant, is that this memorial cross is carefully looked after, varnished and maintained against the weather, and has been all these years. On the anniversary of his death, there is often a posy of flowers laid at the foot of the cross.
For me, Alexander must have found a way to reconcile what he witnessed while serving as an officer and the forgiveness required as a clergyman. His faith must have been of great solace to him and such understanding that we are all humbled in the face of death meant that all he required was a wooden cross, rather than any other more ornate memorial, at the time of his passing.
To forgive we have to be humble. To be humble is to walk away from war and your pride and begin to truly live.
Never Forget.
And if you would like to see more of my work, have a look at my website at:
Forgiveness. For Remembrance Day
The wishes of the dead
Follow the light of the living
The freedom to breathe
Fights with the need to forgive
The longings of the heart
Can deepen our prayers against anger
But words unsaid and hurts remembered
Battle with our need to let the past go
Forgiveness can be difficult to reach
But the sweet silence of peace
Brings a balm to the soul
And a healing to the hereafter
*****
This simple wooden cross that marks the grave of a vicar of Glynde in Sussex, UK, who passed away in 1965 aged 84, was once a serving officer who joined the 1st Gurkha Rifles seeing service in India and Palestine during the Great War. He was invalided out of the army in 1923 and was eventually ordained at York Minster in England in 1932.
Alexander returned to India as a clergyman, serving as an Army Chaplain in Delhi during the Second World War. On returning to England he became at one time the Vicar of Glynde 1951-55.
The Inscription on the cross reads:
“In memory of Rev Lt Col: A.F. INGLIS. Vicar of Glynde 1951-55 died September 9th 1965 Aged 84 years.
Also his wife Anne 1888-1983.
His ashes, along with those of his wife, are buried under this simple cross in the churchyard at Glynde. He lies here with other war dead of the First World War.
What is so incredibly poignant, is that this memorial cross is carefully looked after, varnished and maintained against the weather, and has been all these years. On the anniversary of his death, there is often a posy of flowers laid at the foot of the cross.
For me, Alexander must have found a way to reconcile what he witnessed while serving as an officer and the forgiveness required as a clergyman. His faith must have been of great solace to him and such understanding that we are all humbled in the face of death meant that all he required was a wooden cross, rather than any other more ornate memorial, at the time of his passing.
To forgive we have to be humble. To be humble is to walk away from war and your pride and begin to truly live.
Never Forget.
And if you would like to see more of my work, have a look at my website at: