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The Torn Horizon: The Airborne Chaplains at Arnhem

Door Chris van Roekel

Categorie
WO II
Boeknummer
#333410-VG26
Titel
The Torn Horizon: The Airborne Chaplains at Arnhem
Auteur
Roekel, Chris van
Boektype
Paperback
Uitgeverij
Jan and Wendela ter Horst and Chris van Roekel
Jaar van uitgave
2000
ISBN10
9080457124
ISBN13
9789080457126
Taal
Engels
Beschrijving
Paperback, illustrated with b/w photographs, 8vo.
Samenvatting
The Airborne Chaplains of Arnhem

I think when I was a little lad I asked my grandfather this question. It would have gone something like this:

"Granddad, what is the horizon?"
"That's where Heaven and Earth meet, my lad."
"Can we get there, Granddad?'
"Nay, lad, the horizon's way beyond our reach."

In essence this childlike explanation contained within it a whole world of wisdom: The optical horizon does lie way beyond our reach.

Later, with the idea of this book in the back of my mind, I was awoken by the extraordinary, unbelievable miracle of the chaplains and their wartime work, a combination that at first sight defies all logic, I dis­covered that a horizon did still exist - a place where Heaven and Earth also come together. An inst... (Lees verder)inctive Horizon, possessing a kind of spiritual force; a Horizon not far away from us and right by our side in our hour of need.

In the darkest and most critical hours of our life (and death!) this Horizon stands before our very eyes and the worse our plight becomes, the more it will fill our entire field of vision. Not filling it with a multitude of feelings, but simply with the images of those we love and whom we are anxious and fearful not to confront with the deep sadness in our hearts. Far from their friends and loved ones, stranded in an unknown and hostile land, dying and often suffering terrible injuries lying on some makeshift sickbed, they then hear the strains of the hymn that each and every year brings a lump to the throat of many of those attending the annual Service of Remembrance at Oosterbeek's Cemetery:

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide:
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide:
When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

And: Hold thou thy Cross before my closing eyes.

And who is it then, who at that very moment, when the whole world has taken leaye of its senses and scorns all laws of humanity, is speaking words of comfort to the wounded and the dying, is writing down a soldier's last message to his folks back home, and offers with no thought of his own welfare his unconditional support to all who need it? Yes, you're right. It's the chaplain.

As God's envoy here in this utter Hell on Earth, here where madness reigns supreme and squanders all signs of human love, tenderness and happiness in an all-consuming frenzy of destruction, they, the chaplains, were also here and paid the price, both in their minds and i their bodies.

These stories have given me a great deal to ponder and I don't flatter myself by thinking that others could explain the mystery of the "Torn Horizon" to me. Life itself will do this and may have done so already i some small way. It is and remains a mystery: Life-death-love-hate-war-peace.

The image of a Loved One and a padre as God's final benefactor her on earth against the backdrop of that Howling Torn Horizon.
Pagina's
134
Conditie
Goed
Prijs
€ 30,00

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