My poppy was multi-coloured.

Actually it was not, I wore a red one, which somehow doubled in size upon my arrival at Church.

I am happy to wear a red poppy because for me I acknowledge the sacrifice of the men and women of the armed forces. I also acknowledge the no lesser sacrifice of civilians. I am saddened if the poppy only means the former, and horrified if it does not include the fallen of our allies and indeed our enemies.

I would have been happy to wear a white poppy too. But the reasons for me choosing not to are also complex. I was too nervous. I also respect enormously the naval history of my new home, and red poppy is at home here.

Wearers of red and white poppies have been like two different sets of football supporters this week. The whites have claimed that the reds do not want to work for peace. This neglects the fact that the wearing of a particular colour may not be any sort of statement. Mavis (not her real name) wears one to remember Len (not his real name), Kevin (…) to remember Stuart (…). It also disregards the fact those wearing them are deeply committed to peace. Christians who wear them anyway owe their allegiance to a different kingdom 🙂

The Reds claim the whites disrespect history and courage. That neglects the fact of the countless number of conscientious objectors who went or were sent to the front serving in ambulance crews and alongside chaplains. These people also exhibited extraordinary bravery.

Had I known about the purple poppy I may have been happy to wear one too.

The key thing of course is not the poppy but the remembering…. and in the remembering to commit oneself to working for peace.

Arglwydd Dduw Ein Tad,
tynghedwn ein hunain
i’th wasanaethu di a’r holl ddynol-ryw,
yn achos heddwch,
er diddymu angen a dioddefaint,
ac er moliant i’th enw.
Arwain ni trwy dy Ysbryd;
dyro i ni ddoethineb,
dyro i ni ddewrder,
dyro i ni obaith;
a chadw ni yn ffyddlon
yn awr a byth. Amen