That strange feeling we had in the war. Have you found anything

Hear the voice of Noel Coward, playwright and poet of the human spirit, who once asked with yearning: “That strange feeling we had in the war. Have you found anything in your lives since to equal it in strength? A sort of splendid carelessness it was, holding us together.” In these words lies a memory both sorrowful and radiant—the memory of a time when danger pressed upon all sides, yet from that very crucible was born a unity that few have known outside the shadow of peril. It is a meditation on the paradox of war: that amidst destruction and grief, there often arises a fellowship and courage that ordinary days cannot produce.

When Coward speaks of that strange feeling, he describes the invisible bond that men and women discover when their survival depends upon each other. It is not joy, though joy is sometimes hidden within it. It is not mere courage, though courage is always present. It is the abandonment of self, the willingness to give all for the sake of others, and the sudden clarity that life is most precious when threatened. This feeling, strange and unforgettable, lingers in the memory of those who have walked through war together, binding them in a brotherhood beyond words.

He names it a splendid carelessness—a phrase both paradoxical and profound. Carelessness here does not mean folly, but the casting aside of fear, the disregard for one’s own safety in the face of something greater. It is splendid because it uplifts the human spirit, because it shows that within us lies the capacity to rise above selfishness. Soldiers in the trenches, citizens in bombed cities, nurses and mothers under fire—many discovered this strange liberty, a sense that when all may be lost, one can finally live with clarity and courage.

History bears witness to this spirit. During the London Blitz, when bombs fell nightly and destruction scarred the streets, ordinary people discovered extraordinary resilience. Neighbors sheltered together in underground stations, sharing food, laughter, and song amidst the terror. Out of fire and rubble was born a unity that no ordinary peacetime ever matched. That splendid carelessness Coward spoke of held them together—they did not dwell on tomorrow, for tomorrow was uncertain. Instead, they lived each moment with intensity, cherishing the bond of community and the spark of life itself.

The deeper meaning of Coward’s reflection is that such unity and strength often arise only in extremity. In times of comfort and abundance, people retreat into their private lives, content with isolation. But in hardship, walls collapse, and hearts open. The war forced men and women to remember that they belonged to one another. And though the war ended, the question lingers: can we find such solidarity, such freedom, such devotion, in times of peace? Or must we always wait for disaster to remind us of our shared humanity?

The lesson for us, O listener, is this: do not wait for calamity to reveal the greatness of your heart. Choose now to live with that splendid carelessness—not the recklessness of folly, but the courage to put aside selfishness and fear. Be willing to give, to love, to stand with others in their trials. Create bonds of unity not through shared danger, but through shared purpose, kindness, and faith. In this way, the spirit of resilience and togetherness can live even in times of peace.

Practical steps are these: seek out community and nurture it; do not isolate yourself in comfort. Face each day with courage, remembering that life is fleeting and best lived with generosity. When fear would paralyze you, choose instead to act boldly for the sake of others. And when trials come—as they always will—embrace them as chances to grow in unity, to rediscover the strength that lies not in one alone, but in many bound together.

Thus Coward’s question still stands across the ages: “Have you found anything in your lives since to equal it in strength?” Let our answer be not a sigh of regret, but a resolve—that we will carry forward the spirit of splendid carelessness, the courage that forgets self, the unity that holds fast, and the strength that rises together. In so doing, we turn the memory of war’s strange gift into a living force for peace.