The passing of the mantel...
Illustration
The passing of the mantel from one generation to another, or from one hand to another, be it a prophetic mantel, the mantel of tradition or leadership, brings to mind the poem of John McCrae, In Flanders Field, particularly the line, "To you from failing hands we throw / The torch; be yours to hold it high."
The prayer of the dead soldiers is that their comrades in arms would pick up the challenge that the dead leave behind and carry it through to victory.
These lines from McCrae's poem were also written on the dressing room wall of the storied Montreal Canadians hockey club. Dick Irvin, Sr., the coach of the Canadians in 1952, had the words inscribed on the wall to inspire the team to continue in the winning tradition of the team. It still inspires today.
Elisha picked up the torch passed to him from Elijah, and the prophetic tradition continued.
The prayer of the dead soldiers is that their comrades in arms would pick up the challenge that the dead leave behind and carry it through to victory.
These lines from McCrae's poem were also written on the dressing room wall of the storied Montreal Canadians hockey club. Dick Irvin, Sr., the coach of the Canadians in 1952, had the words inscribed on the wall to inspire the team to continue in the winning tradition of the team. It still inspires today.
Elisha picked up the torch passed to him from Elijah, and the prophetic tradition continued.
