Today is National Fish and Chip Day – an opportunity to celebrate a beloved British staple and support our local chippy, which is likely to be feeling the heat from rising costs. As we tuck into our fish and chips, we’re reminded that simple, familiar things can carry deep cultural and communal importance.

But beyond these everyday comforts, 6 June holds a deeper, more solemn significance. Today is the 81st anniversary of D-Day, when Allied forces launched the largest amphibious invasion in history on the beaches of Normandy. Operation Overlord, as it was codenamed, was a decisive moment in the liberation of Europe from Nazi occupation. Troops from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and other nations undertook this immense task, and many never returned.

Commemorations today include a service of remembrance at the British Normandy Memorial and a wreath-laying ceremony to honour the courage and sacrifice of those who fought for freedom.

A central theme throughout Scripture is the call to remember. The Israelites were repeatedly urged to recall their deliverance from Egypt and to anchor their identity and purpose in God’s covenant and faithful actions throughout history. Yet, as we see in Isaiah 43, there’s a striking tension. After reminding the people of the exodus (Isaiah 43:16–17), God immediately calls them not to dwell on the past, because he’s about to do something new (Isaiah 43:18–19).

The challenge for God’s people – then and now – is to remember the past without living in it. How do we honour the past without becoming bound by it? We should commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of the Allied forces and their stand against fascism, but remembrance also calls us to action today.

The act of remembrance allows us to reflect on who God is, who we are, and the responsibilities we bear. We may never be called to storm a beach, but, as followers of Jesus, we are all called to resist evil and stand for truth and justice, whatever the cost. That could mean promoting fair and just practices at work, speaking out against oppressive regimes, giving sacrificially of time and money, or refusing to buy certain products – just as Britons once boycotted slave-produced sugar in the 1790s.

By remembering our past, we can find courage for today and renewed resolve to join God in shaping a more just, merciful, and peaceful world.

Paul Woolley 
CEO, LICC