The Fool’s Pilgrimage – VE Day 80
FREEDOM.
When I hear that word, my mind instantly conjures Mel Gibson’s unforgettable portrayal of William Wallace in Braveheart, roaring the word with such raw conviction: “FREEDOM!” Certainly when I visited Scotland many moons ago and travelled to Stirling it captured a great pride and feeling of gratitude within me that freedom was something I greatly enjoy.
But today, on the 80th anniversary of VE Day, I think not of films or speeches—but of real people. I imagine the euphoria, the tears, the quiet relief that swept through the Allied nations as the war ended. I think of those who were imprisoned—literally in camps, figuratively in fear—and those who never truly tasted freedom again, trapped in the long shadows of trauma and loss.
My own grandad returned from war physically scarred and emotionally battered. I wonder—did he ever feel truly free again? Did peace find him easily, or was it something he had to fight for long after the fighting stopped?
I remember my dad telling me stories of his dad (grandad) struggling with life! Drink and anger seemed to be two companions that followed him – of course the grandad I knew was a lovely man who let me drive his Hillman Imp along his street (he was a driving instructor 🚗)
I live in a very different world. I’ve had the freedom to run my own business, to move and travel as I please, to explore cultures, countries, and new ideas. Even something as simple as choosing to stay in bed all day feels like a kind of freedom—although, as Lisa just reminded me with a laugh, that’s unlikely to happen!
But jokes aside, I know this: the freedom I enjoy today came at a great cost. Lives were lost. Futures were sacrificed. A whole generation bore the weight of a war that changed everything.
And while we honour the freedom gained in 1945, we must also recognise that freedom is still not a reality for many—around the world, yes, but also closer to home: in our towns, on our streets, even within our own homes and hearts. Some are trapped by fear, by circumstance, by wounds we cannot see.
So today, as we pause to mark this historic moment, let us truly reflect on what freedom means—not just as a celebration, but as a responsibility. Let’s honour it in our choices, our habits, our words, our actions. Let’s extend it to others—not at their expense, but in recognition of their worth. Freedom, after all, is a birthright, not a privilege.
Happy VE Day.
Thank you to those who gave us this gift.
We carry it forward with gratitude, with hope—and with love.
Namaste.
Have a beautiful day.
