Remembrance Day: Did You Ever?

Did you ever...

• run, walk or work out until you ached all over and then start all over again?
• wake up in the dark and go to bed hours later in the dark?
• practice and practice and practice to learn one skill?
• leave your family for months at a time to live and work in a far-off country?
• think that your boss was a control freak or a micro-manager?
• wonder at times why you choose your career path?
• experience cold, hunger and loneliness all at the same time?
• do what you were told when you didn't understand or agree?
• witness God's beautiful world being destroyed unnecessarily?
• feel desperately ill and not have immediate access to proper health care?
• find yourself surrounded by people who didn't speak your language?
• feel like you were trapped in a job that required too much from you?
• long for your own bed after several nights of being away from it?
• dislike some of your co-workers but know there was nothing you could do about them?
• feel so much fear that you thought you wouldn't be able to carry on?
• trust that you were doing the right thing even when it felt wrong?
• count the days until a project was over?
• survive a violent attack by a group of thugs?
• suffer so much pain that you passed out?
• sleep with your clothes and shoes on so you could run if necessary?
• have to keep your location a secret even from your family?
• grieve because you have lost a close friend?
• stay awake to avoid nightmares?
• get sea or air sick on a long journey?
• feel disillusioned?
• distrust politicians?
• wish that you didn't have to wear a uniform to work?
• crawl through mud on a cold, cold day?
• dread to hear the sound of an ambulance siren?
• not be able to explain what you had experienced?
• run out of words needed to form a prayer?
• smell death?
• know that one little mistake could risk your life and the lives of all those around you?
• realize that your efforts translated into freedom and peace for others?
• experience a healthy pride from knowing that you served your country?

If you did, perhaps you are a soldier, sailor, pilot, veteran or peace officer who deserves the respect, honour and deep gratitude of us all.

November 11th- Remembrance Day - Lest we Forget!