Thought For The Day – Tuesday 11th November 2025
“And In The Morning”
Today, the 11th of November 2025, on the 11th hour, of the 11th month, on the 11th day, “Armistice Day”, we, led by Mr. Reeve, as a school community, respect and remember all who sacrifice(d), serve(d), and suffer(ed), as we do at this time each, and every, year.
In Bishop’s Stortford, at the War Memorial, Mrs. Miles, Fin Macfie, Isaac Jones, and Joshua Tingley will represent The Bishop’s Stortford High School at the local commemoration.
Here, at The Bishop’s Stortford High School, after we have had something to eat and drink at break, we will gather, as a community, in one place and space, and hear readings, prayers, and “The Last Post”, and impeccably observe a two-minute silence. Thank you to Oliver Berry for his help with poppies at T.B.S.H.S. today.
In the hustle and bustle of life, today will be an important moment of quiet and stillness, of reflection, together, and in the natural world.
Through the years, Remembrance becomes ever more important.
In the words of Laurence Binyon, which will be read by Mr. Reeve:
“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. We will remember them”.
This year, we have been particularly, and deeply, thinking about the 80th anniversary of the end of The Second World War.
We reflect on the fact that all of us are only here because our relatives survived this, and indeed previous, conflict.
If they had not survived, we, personally, and collectively, would not be here.
And, as we stand as a school community today, we think about all those numerous, and invisible, generations of students, staff, parents, and people generally who never had the opportunities we have today, indeed never lived at all, because their family were killed.
“When you go home, tell them of us and say for your tomorrow, we gave our today.”
These words, from John Maxwell Edmonds, are inscribed on the memorial at Kohima War Cemetery in India, pictured above.
We very deeply reflect on conflict, violence, and war that has ravaged since The First and Second World Wars. including in Ukraine, the Middle East, and Sudan.
Very importantly, today, and every day, we also remember the emergency services: ambulance; fire; health; and police. They run to the danger.
And we think about the intelligence, and security, services who also keep us safe.
We reflect on the cost of conflict and war to the environment and all and everything in the environment.
And, as we stand as a school community today, we know, and appreciate, the mystery of life is both simple and complex, so beautiful and so wonderful, and yet, at times, so very challenging beyond words.
We are a very grateful and thankful for each, and every, day, which provides an opportunity to care and do good.
We humbly spread compassion, empathy, kindness, light, love, and peace together, valuing the vulnerable, respecting all, standing for values and equality, staying safe, looking after ourselves, and looking after, and giving back to, others.
In our respectful and resilient journey, and journeys, together, those we love are, and will always be, with us and those we love will always inspire us.
A musical extract from the “B.B.C. One” programme “Songs of Praise” of Remembrance Sunday 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brttM2dRKd4
