Tommy Wilson: A thought for those who never came home from war

The Wharepai Domain gates. Photo / John Borren

While some of us may not believe in angels, most of us want to believe in a peaceful planet where our kids and their kids can play.

I am a believer in both.

From as young as I can remember we as a family of 11 kids believed in angels. We talked about them, we sang to them and, at times, my sisters said they played with them. On one occasion, according to those sitting beneath the water tank in our backyard one of the angels taught her how to fly while the others watched on, and remember, this was way before hallucinogenic enjoyment enhancers kicked into the far out - and the far east lifestyles we lived later on, in the sixties and seventies.

My favourite angels are The Awhi Angels who I have written about on many occasions in this column over the past couple of decades, and once every year I reach out across the veil and welcome another hapu of the Anahera whanau - the Armistice Angels. These angels look after those who were lost to war, and to those left behind to live life without them.

This year marks the Armistice Angels' 100th year, and on Sunday morning at 11 minutes past the 11th hour, we will remember the 11th day of the 11th month back in 1918 when the Great War as it was known finally ended.

Why WWI had the title "Great" bestowed upon it, I have no idea, more grateful would be better, given that it ended seems appropriate and 230,000 of the 250,000 Kiwi boys who went came home, leaving the Armistice Angels to look after the 18,000 who never made it back.

Some numerologists believe that events linked to the time 11:11 appear more often than can be explained by chance or coincidence. This belief is the basis to the concept of synchronicity.

According to numerology, the number 11 is a "master number" which signifies intuition, insight, and enlightenment. When paired together, 11 11 is a clear message from the universe to become conscious and aware ... In other words, seeing 11 11 is a good sign, so keep looking out for it.

Some authors claim that seeing 11:11 on a clock is an auspicious sign, and there are others like this one, who claim that 11:11 signals a spirit presence.

I have followed the teachings of the Dalai Lama for as long as I can remember and me and Mr Lama - who I have sat and listened to more than once, seem to be singing from the same Armistice song sheet, when it comes to finding peace on this crazy planet that keeps getting crazier.

Many of our great prophets of peace and gurus of the written word have reflected on the ravages of war and the fallen heroes who never came home.

Kipling himself who penned the poem Lest We Forget that became an anthem for both world wars took inspiration from the Bible - namely Deuteronomy 6:12, which reads: "Then beware lest thou forget the Lord which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt."

Therefore, it comes as no surprise nor is it by coincidence in my opinion, that the most crucial moment of peace for us all to remember on this planet is the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month

There have been many times I have shared in magic moments where the presence of awhi angels in the whare is undeniable.

Perhaps I am too much of a moemoea - a dreamer? Perhaps it is an invoice from my far out and far-east days of decadence, who knows?

What I do know is the number 11 could well be a message from the angels concerning our soul mission or greater life purpose, and when the angels send you messages they are sending you inspiration and encouragement to develop your abilities in ways that will help all of humanity.

Just saying.

This Sunday the 11th day of November at our marae we will remember our loved ones, and I will spare a thought for those who never got to come home from war.

And when the 11th-hour signals the moment of Armistice, I will say haere mai to the awhi angels and their Armistice Anahera - as I will to Rudyard Kipling and his Lest we Forget poem.

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them."