Wigan's War Memorial

I arrived at Wigan after the eleventh day of last month. The wreaths and poppy-themed memorials were still neatly positioned around its base, the winds and feckless youths had not yet shifted them, bespoiling the order. All very typical for a cenotaph in autumn. Yet red cyclamens had been planted about the garden, surely with the intention of commemorating the War Dead. Much as I love a paper poppy, a living, ‘breathing’ plant is the prettier. Those deceased young men who fell in Flanders’ dreadful field were well served by those little flowers bobbing in the breeze.

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In Luke 24:4-6, we read of those who came to the Lord Jesus’ empty tomb:

And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them,

“Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee.”

All kings, gurus, prophets and the rest are now silenced by death, awaiting the outcome of the great tribunal. Only Jesus Christ, Death-Defeater and Grave-Grinder, is now characterised by life and vitality.

The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; Song of Solomon 2:12