Battle cries. "How are the mighty fallen in the midst of battle." "I believe for every drop of rain that falls a newborn baby cries." "When your sweetheart sends a letter of goodbye, let your hair down and give yourself a cry." Cries of pain in the night and flashing ambulance lights. Cries of horror as a bomb hits another frail building in Beirut. Tears pouring down a widow’s weatherbeaten face as she gently places flowers on a newly-dug grave.

Battle cries. The mighty and the meek fall in life’s battle each day. No son of Adam or daughter of Eve is alien to the dark landscape of grief.

Saul and Jonathan had fallen to the mighty armies of the Philistines. High on the rocky slopes of Mount Gilboa, the flower of a generation had been plucked by the cruel hands of the conqueror. Now the no…