Honoring those who have served and those who serve today
In the United States this day has been set aside as Memorial to honor those who have died while serving in this country’s Armed Forced. It has, it seems often morphed into a day to remember all those who have served in the armed forces and all who have served others. I recall, as a child, gathering at the cemetery on Memorial Day. Grandma and other women in the family would have cooked fried chicken, potato salad, homemade pickles, deviled eggs and other goodies which somehow did not become dangerous to eat after sitting in the Oklahoma sun. Graves would be cleaned and stories told to honor all those who had been laid to rest in that space. Some of those honored were indeed those who had died in the armed forces. Of course, there were many whose bodies did not come home to be buried in this common resting place.
Today, as I think of friends and families who have died serving in the military and serving day-to-day on the home front, I think of many battles which we continue to wage against each other and against ourselves. I am aware of those I know who have served in combat and the many scars – internal and external – with which they live each day.
I am aware of all those suffering great hardship as they flee – often with young children – the war machines which make it impossible to safely live in their home country. I am aware of the many families who open their homes and hearts to these brothers and sisters who are labeled aliens or immigrants and who are seen by others as a burden or as illegals. My heart is sad just thinking about them.
I am also aware of all those who struggle with an internal war which often leads to the loss of hope; which leads first to the death of spirit and then the death of body. Addiction often accompanied by another illness such as depression has left empty plates at many family gatherings today. On this Memorial Day let us also honor and remember those who have been killed by this internal war. Let us remember the many families who are grieving a loss as deep as those who have lost someone in active combat.
This loss of hope in the possibilities of faith in each other which leads to active wars; this loss of hope which leads to this attempt to out bully each other; this loss of hope which results in each side creating more weapons; this loss of hope which leads individuals and nations to feed upon power, greed, hate and other bitter and destructive weapons of mass destruction; this lost hope must be found if we are to survive; this hope in our better selves; this hopes in the better selves of those we call enemies; this hope that we do not have to keep give our family members to addiction; this hope that we can all find our better selves.
On this Memorial Day let us celebrate hope and the courage to trust in the creative power of love.
Written May 28, 2018
In the United States this day has been set aside as Memorial to honor those who have died while serving in this country’s Armed Forced. It has, it seems often morphed into a day to remember all those who have served in the armed forces and all who have served others. I recall, as a child, gathering at the cemetery on Memorial Day. Grandma and other women in the family would have cooked fried chicken, potato salad, homemade pickles, deviled eggs and other goodies which somehow did not become dangerous to eat after sitting in the Oklahoma sun. Graves would be cleaned and stories told to honor all those who had been laid to rest in that space. Some of those honored were indeed those who had died in the armed forces. Of course, there were many whose bodies did not come home to be buried in this common resting place.
Today, as I think of friends and families who have died serving in the military and serving day-to-day on the home front, I think of many battles which we continue to wage against each other and against ourselves. I am aware of those I know who have served in combat and the many scars – internal and external – with which they live each day.
I am aware of all those suffering great hardship as they flee – often with young children – the war machines which make it impossible to safely live in their home country. I am aware of the many families who open their homes and hearts to these brothers and sisters who are labeled aliens or immigrants and who are seen by others as a burden or as illegals. My heart is sad just thinking about them.
I am also aware of all those who struggle with an internal war which often leads to the loss of hope; which leads first to the death of spirit and then the death of body. Addiction often accompanied by another illness such as depression has left empty plates at many family gatherings today. On this Memorial Day let us also honor and remember those who have been killed by this internal war. Let us remember the many families who are grieving a loss as deep as those who have lost someone in active combat.
This loss of hope in the possibilities of faith in each other which leads to active wars; this loss of hope which leads to this attempt to out bully each other; this loss of hope which results in each side creating more weapons; this loss of hope which leads individuals and nations to feed upon power, greed, hate and other bitter and destructive weapons of mass destruction; this lost hope must be found if we are to survive; this hope in our better selves; this hopes in the better selves of those we call enemies; this hope that we do not have to keep give our family members to addiction; this hope that we can all find our better selves.
On this Memorial Day let us celebrate hope and the courage to trust in the creative power of love.
Written May 28, 2018
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