IN Flanders fields poppy seeds lay dead for decades, and so they would have remained had their world not been turned upside down.

Disturbance was their only hope, and 90 years ago this came in bomb-loads. Around our fallen, dead seeds germinated vividly into life and beauty and new hope.

Thus did the Creator design poppies and propagation. And if he did this for the flowers of the field, will he not do it even more for those he loves – for you and me?

This Remembrance time, do we possibly see evidence of his handiwork as hope emerges from our recent disturbances?

Take racism and finances. Who in 2006 would ever have guessed that America would elect a black president? It took, among other things, an economic bombshell as two thirds of US voters opted to trust Barack Obama with their jobs and money.

Lesser British bombshells and ensuing disturbances hint at hope.

Who’d have imagined the BBC apologising to its viewers and listeners after eventually hitting the bottom of the slippery slope it has been sliding down for a generation? As enough cried enough, our broadcasters recognised the limits of evil.

Have we perhaps decided that the Christian values and standards that our young men gave their lives for 90 years ago are still worth fighting for today?

This God of freewill often allows his humans to turn their world upside down so that seeds of divine and common sense might germinate, thus allowing colour to flood back into life.