"They shall grow not old,
as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them,
nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun
and in the morning
We will remember them."
Ode of Remembrance
Yesterday I rose early and went with many others throughout Australia, New Zealand and across the globe to an ANZAC dawn service. There may have been well over a thousand people who lined the streets in front of the cenotaph, standing in the dark chill of the morning for the sober occasion. 25 April is the anniversary of the first military action of Australians and New Zealanders in the first World War on the shores of Gallipoli. It is also a time to remember those who have served and died in war for our nation. It is a longstanding tradition to gather at dawn to remember them, lest we forget.
One thing that is always well done at the ANZAC dawn services I have attended is an explanation of what ANZAC Day stands for and why we gather. The structure to the service is fairly predictable: a welcome, prayer, hymns (favourites are "Abide with Me" and "Here's to the Heroes"), the recitation of the Ode, wreath laying as bagpipes are played, the Last Post is performed with a bugle, a minute of silence followed by The Rouse on the bugle, and the singing of the Australia and New Zealand national anthems. A diverse group of people and families, young and old, united together in the street to remember and honour the fallen. Next to a man standing at attention, his jacket adorned in medals and a sprig of rosemary, a mother tended to an infant in a pram. It was wonderful to see this meaningful tradition being observed by parents who brought their children along.
Attending ANZAC Day dawn services is a common tradition for many that has been passed down through generations. Anyone who goes to a service is reminded why we gather. No one is there because it is a convenient hour, because of the quality of the amplification system, to be entertained by musicians, the rousing speeches by guest dignitaries or the angelic voices of a choir. There was no comfortable seating available or air conditioning. Those who gathered did so to remember the ANZACs and those who died in war and military operations. When your mind is focused on this meaningful purpose for attending a dawn service, the discomfort of standing still for an hour on cold concrete, auditory pain of feedback through the speakers or the distraction of out-of-sync music and singers will pose no hindrance from returning the following ANZAC Day.
I feel the same concerning regular attendance to church where, with great fondness and admiration, we remember our LORD Jesus Christ who gave His life for us lost sinners. If going to church is only a tradition and bereft of meaning or purpose, the quality of the sound system, comfort of the seats and air conditioning, and style of the preacher can deter us from continuing to attend. Whether in church leadership or a parishioner, we can be drawn to focus on style over substance and actually be distracted from our primary focus: to love, serve and worship God and one another in unity as the Body of Christ. We gather for prayer, study and to sing praise, choosing to pour out our lives as a living sacrifice to God which is our reasonable service. As people and families young and old met at the cenotaph at the break of dawn, so believers ought to frequently gather together to remember Him: our Saviour Jesus.
