The last Monday in May has been set aside by Congress as Memorial Day; traditionally, it would be observed this coming Friday, on May 30th rather than the last Monday in May. This holiday commemorates U.S. men and women who died in military service for their country. I think the Monday observance has turned what should be a day of spiritual observance into the make-up of another three-day weekend. Many organizations feel that changing the May 30th observance has undermined the very meaning of the day. I note its observance this year was more in keeping as a day of memorializing the sacrifices that have been our nation’s hallmark and made it a more memorable event, most especially as we hear of our men and women dying daily in Iraq and Afganistan. Perhaps it is due to all the national political campaigning going on.
Memorial Day was an outgrowth of the Civil War, a day dedicated to the memory of the dead, both the Blue and the Gray. After World War I, it was expanded to include the memory of all who had served our country in all of its wars. Those who still observe the occasion take the time to remember family and loved ones who have passed on to their eternal home by visiting cemetaries and memorials. A National Moment of Remembrance takes place at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day. Another tradition is to fly the U.S. Flag at half-staff from dawn until noon local time.
In the years since World War II, we have been engaged in the Korean Conflict, the war in Vietnam and numerous conflicts around the world, both covert and overt missions to overthrow governments in power. The terrorist attack of 9/11 directed our nation towards a new type enemy, not one of national identity, but an ideological one. President Bush has led us into a war in Afghanistan and Iraq which he has designed to locate and destroy this new enemy and in so doing bring democratic rule to these countries. Daily media reports indicate that we are a long way from achieving either objective. However noble our mission may be, these and our numerous military involvements elsewhere have brought America’s foreign policy decisions under both internal and international scrutiny.
Everywhere, people are asking, “What can we do about the struggles we face today, most notably that of bringing our service men and women home safely? What can anyone do? Is there anything one individual can do that will make a difference in these troubled times?” These questions are often accompanied with an air of futility. The implication is that one individual is impotent, that he can do little, that he is an insignificant factor in any situation.
But I believe there is hope. A positive, victorious faith is available to anyone and everyone; it is available for you and for me. This is the kind of faith that will help us overcome all circumstances of life that would otherwise defeat us. But it doesn’t come cheaply nor is it easily attained. It calls for us to sink deeply in our Christianity and allow it to seep deeply into our very being.
We are called to humble ourselves. Pray. Trust in God. Turn to Him in our every need. Develop a deep faith in Jesus Christ, a positive faith that will carry us through all times, especially troubled ones.
These doctrines may seem old-fashioned, but the greatest thing anyone can do is to have the experience of standing up to a devastating situation and saying with all his heart, “I can deal with this with the help of Almighty God!”
Micah identified walking humbly with God as one of the big three requirements for God’s people (Micah 6:8). Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29). The root of the word humble is humus (ground). Our words human and humility come from the same root. Humility is the firm foundation upon which our spiritual life is built. Humility is not underestimating our worth or allowing ourselves to be defined by another. Humility is the opposite of this. Henri Nouwen, in his book Bread for the Journey, puts it this way, “It is the grateful recognition that we are precious in God’s eyes and that all we are is pure gift.” Humility, rooted in gratitude, provides the soft heart in which God may form a new creation, ever new, changed from one glory into another glory. A life in Christ is all about God and others, about how I live in relation to God and to others, not some but all others.
Today in our nation this practice of and growth in humility is so countercultural that we sometimes live in confusion and frustration. We take pride in our achievements, our accumulated wealth, things, our power, individually and nationally. And then we find ourselves pushed to the point of breaking the bodies and souls.of others in accomplishing these goals. “Humility begins with our rootness in God – and our recognition that only God and God’s will matter” (What Happened to Humility?, N. Graham Standish).
Archbishop Oscar Romero in his last homily on March 23, 1980 said, “Beautiful is the moment in which we understand that we are no more than an instrument of God; we live only as long as God wants us to live; we can do only as much as God makes us able to do; we are only as intelligent as God would have us be.”
The attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001 brought forth a lot of human emotional responses both here and worldwide ... of loss, grief, anger, fear, confusion, helplessness, vengeance. Proclaiming the need for a ‘war on terror’ our elected leaders found justification to initiate a call to arms in Afghanistan and eventually Iraq. We further justified our actions by invoking Scripture, making assumptions about who God is, who we are and what God wants us to do in the world, proclaiming that since we are a compassionate people, living in a Christian nation, we have God’s blessing to hunt for terrorists and the countries that may be harboring them. Those who disagreed were called unpatriotic, traitors. Pushed by political expediency and emotions, we failed to question the assumptions that were given to justify our military action. “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom” (Proverbs 11:2 NIV).
Our leaders treated themselves as righteous, confidently doing what God wants but in so doing acted like God himself. As a people we cannot turn back the clock of historyand wipe clean our leader’s decisions. Can we, as people of faith, consider the impact of our country’s actions here and abroad and confess our ignorance and naive assumptions that have led us to this international chaos? If so, we can take the small step needed to begin the journey on the road to peace.
Will tomorrow bring an end to our troubled times? Only God knows. But whatever lies ahead, we can count on God’s help. The world can be a wonderful world for all; but this can be accomplished only by the tremendous healing power of God through Jesus Christ working upon people’s souls. Though some of our battles seem lost, I believe America will prevail if only our people will remember, “In God We Trust!” Trusting in God calls us to roll up out sleeves and put our faith into action befitting our name as Christians.
I close with this poem for peace written during World War II by U.S. Navy Wave Gwen Danner Holland. I along with people over the years have found comfort in her words.
Prayer in Solitude
I stand and watch the golden sun slip quietly away.
The dusk falls all about me, this is the end of day.
A tiny, rippling little stream, a wooden bridge so small.
The chant of crickets fills the air, the iris stands so tall.
This I choose, an altar Lord, a quiet place to pray.
For those we love so far away,where there’s no night, no day.
Courageous men and women facing battle over there.
They strive for peace, then homeward bound. Thou knowest their despair.
The days and nights since they’ve been gone are long and lonely too.
You have them Lord, so let them know Thine own great love from You.
I pray for their safe keeping. I ask for nothing more,
but that you hear this humble prayer above Your oceans’ roar.
The night is come, I’ll close my prayer for joyful peace again.
But thru this war, I pray Oh God, take care of them. Amen.
- World War II Navy Wave Gwen Danner Holland
