Just A Leaf

For What Greater Love Has Any Man Than This? John 15:13

Source: K-House

LAND OF THE FREE, BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE

"It is, in a way, an odd thing to honor those who died in defense of our country, in defense of us, in wars afar away. The imagination plays a trick. We see these soldiers in our mind as old and wise. We see them as something like the Founding Fathers, grave and gray-haired. But most of them were boys when they died, and they gave up two lives, the one they were living and the one they would have lived. When they died, they gave up their chance to be husbands and fathers and grandfathers. They gave up their chance to be revered old men. They gave up everything for our country, for us. And all we can do is remember." - Ronald Reagan

This Saturday is Veterans Day. Formerly known as Armistice Day, it was originally instituted to commemorate the 1918 cease fire agreement that ended World War I. In November of 1919, President Woodrow Wilson issued the following proclamation:

"...To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nation."

President Calvin Coolidge dedicated Armistice Day "to the cause of world peace." However after World War II the significance of this day changed. On May 24, 1954 congress officially renamed the holiday Veterans Day. Today, Veterans Day is set aside to honor United States military personnel who have fought gallantly in all wars, not just World War I. It is a day dedicated to the 25 million Americans who wear the proud title of veteran.

On Veterans Day we remember the men and women of our Armed Forces through the centuries who have come together to fight for a common cause. They’ve defended America when our borders, our people and our way of life have been threatened. They are ordinary people who have been placed in extraordinary circumstances. Veterans are people who know the true meaning of courage. From the battles of Lexington and Concord – where the blood of the first American patriots was spilt – to the trenches of Europe and the desert sands of Iraq, our soldiers have put their lives on the line for liberty.

Now, more than ever, our troops need your support and encouragement. Gone are the days of the ticker-tape parades that welcomed our troops home from battle. Media coverage of the war in Iraq focuses more on the death toll than the heroic accomplishments of our men and women in uniform. To make matters worse, highly publicized incidents like the abuse at Abu Ghraib prison have cast a shadow of disparagement over our military. This Veterans Day remember to say thank you to those who have served our nation in the armed forces. Also, please remember to pray for the brave men and women who are still deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.

I haven't typically observed this holiday more than simply acknowleging that the day, once again, had passed me by without my noticing. This time however, while perusing this newsletter I receive, I was pierced to the heart by the words of Mr. Reagan, as quoted in the first paragraph.

While the sacrifice of Christ was beyond any that our veterans were capable of making, I have found myself to be apathetic towards those who's lives were lost in the wars of the past. The Bible has much to say about the sacrifice of death (Romans 5:6-7, John 15:13, 1 John 3:16). And while I would likely be accused of misquoting/misapplying these and other passages, it is not my heart to try to prove that dying in the line of battle is either noble or Christian. Rather, I feel, in my heart, that I have misunderstood the many selfless and courageous men who gave their life because they wanted me to be safe and free (I will not attempt to define this further).

There is simply no greater gesture that can be made in our state of humanity. In a physical sense, many of these men (and now women, I suppose) are demonstrating a level of love that I doubt many of my Christian brothers and sisters, or myself for that matter, would be willing to walk out. By the Grace of God, I hope I would be proven wrong.

Whether I suppose their great sacrifice to be in vain or of achieved purpose, this does not nullify the impact in which this offering has upon my heart. In God's image we were created, and as God Himself has made sacrifice for my sake, so my fleshly brethren have made sacrifice. As it is written, "it is appointed to man once to die, and then comes the judgment", and with that single shot, with that one chance that these young men had to make a difference in the world, they chose to hold another above themselves. I would think myself heartless indeed to make light of such a thing.

I am neither an activist patriot or a selfish squatter... I am grateful.

Please take the time to pray for the poor folks who are in war around the world who fight for the things we deem decent. Pray that they will be delivered from death, forever.