‘Blessed are the Peacemakers for they shall be called the Children of God’
80 years is a long time. It takes us back to the end of World War 2 in 1945. VE Day on 8th May and VJ Day on 15 August. Many of us will have watched commemorations online or on TV. And we have seen many images of our parents’ and grandparents’ generation going through it all.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
Phil Simpson
8/18/20251 min read
Some of us in Woking took part in a commemoration in Send to remember the dropping of Atomic bombs on Hiroshima (6/Aug) and Nagasaki (9/Aug), which brought an end to WW2. Between 150 – 250 thousand civilians were killed. It was the only use of nuclear bombs in armed conflict and those atomic bombs were small in comparison to the 27,000 in today’s arsenals.
Poems were recited, interfaith prayers for peace were said and we sang Bob Dylan’s ‘Blowing in the wind’. Then most poignantly, flowers and candles of remembrance in grapefruit skins were floated on the Wey at twilight. The event was organised by Woking Action for Peace
So many institutions and movements for Peace were set up after WW2, so that humankind would not repeat the mistakes of the past. But as we see in our own time, so many of these instruments of peace are being dismantled and the Doomsday Clock moves ever closer to Midnight.
We must ‘pursue the things that make for peace’. The alternatives are calamitous.
I offer you peace.
I offer you love.
I offer you friendship.
I see your beauty
I hear your need.
I feel your feelings.
My wisdom comes
from the Highest Source.
I salute that Source in you.
Let us work together for unity and Love
(Ghandi’s Prayer for Peace)
Rev Phil Simpson
Guildford Diocesan Interfaith Adviser
