A message given by Dr John Douglas (RNZAMC - WO1 Rtd.) at a service held at Ocean Shores, Village, Mt Maunganui. The focus is on remembrance.

1. ANZAC Day 2016 at Ocean Shores Village
Once a year, as a nation we celebrate ANZAC day. Celebrate is a funny old word. To many
the heart-of-the-word means party, fun, lots of laughter, games, refreshments and more
photos to upload onto Facebook. While celebrating ANZAC day doesn’t mean all of those
things, it certainly has celebration at its heart.
As a word celebrate’s roots are in the middle-English and Latin meaning “to frequent;”
simply to frequent, to keep doing or observing an occasion with appropriate ceremony or
festivity.
To observe/celebrate, we firstly remember then gather. Today that’s keeping the
celebration of ANZAC day. From our remembering and gatherings such as this one, we
participate in remembrance. Remembrance is the composition of three living engagements;
identification, inclusion, and inspiration. Our remembrance is not the historic past, but the
living past. Not merely living in the past or seeking to recapture it, but allowing its living
memory to empower the present and inspire the future.
Over the last week we have been remembering. We have again been calling to mind past
people; remembering them. Past responses to the historic and ongoing crises produced in
our nation’s responses to wars, conflicts, and oppressions beyond our borders;
remembering what and reflecting on why. We have been practicing remembrance; a
remembrance we practice within our New Zealand cultural story. Though it’s now more
than a hundred years since “the defining ANZAC event”, we process the present in light of
the past.
Remembrance – more than remembering
Remembrance is a practice that calls for more than a mere ritual of recalling the past. It
calls for learning, "being mentored by the past in the present”
My father (that’s him on the left hand photo) who served in WW1 was a mentor of men.
Both my elder brother and I, now in our seventies, are amongst the many men he
mentored throughout his eighty-five years. We often reflect on the lessons we have

2. learned, lived, and passed onto others from him. Though when “talking-over-life-with-our-
folks,” the focus is “more upon what was happening than when it happened,” – that’s the
difference between remembrance and reminiscence. In remembrance we remember what,
in reminiscence we only recall “when” – when fades with time; while what continues to
renew both present and future.
Remembrance which centers in what and why reflection, as practice is not fixed to April 25
– it’s a “huge key to mentored life” . . .
If we “remember to remember” . . .
 Ongoing remembrance can build community-wisdom, shape and re-shape attitude,
and provide us perspective . . .
As we “remember to remember” . . .
Here’s my favourite remembrance exhortation in the Judeo-Christian scriptures . . .
“Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your
ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly
exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those
who were so treated. You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the
confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and
lasting possessions. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly
rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you
will receive what he has promised.” (Hebrews 10:32-36)
The writer’s simple idea, “don’t throw away, what you once wouldn’t let others take away.”
In this day’s ANZAC services, activities, Hui, focused-media broadcasts and connections with
others, we identify with the sacrifice of other peoples and families in the past-cost of our
present freedom. In the light-of-ANZAC we include ourselves afresh in what it means to be
“Kiwis in 2016.” We allow inspiration gained in our celebration of ANZAC’s living memory to
empower present and inspire future. The day is a celebration of continuity, community and
courage.
Remembrance as a powerful life-renewal for our personal and community life should be
much more than an annual event. ANZAC occurs annually--yes, but its more, much more;
it’s an ongoing recalling through the visual and relational reminders around us. ANZAC is a
celebration that’s both historic and present. For instance, once a week Christian churches
celebrate Sunday. Not just celebrate on Sunday, but celebrate Sunday. For Christian
churches Sunday commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, not just on Easter Sunday
– but “on the first day of the week.” Christian weekly remembrance is not just historic past;
it’s the living past in the present. Not merely living in the past or seeking to recapture it, but
allowing its living memory to empower the present and inspire the future. So also ANZAC.
Let us “remember to remember.”
Revd. Dr. John C Douglas – RNZAMC (WO1 Rtd.)