WATCHWORD:
Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you. Psalms 33:20-22
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Ephesians 6:11
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13
Meditation:
Veteran’s Day was yesterday, November 11. I was 18 when I was enlisted in the Army. I say “was enlisted in the Army” because it seemed inevitable that my “draft number” would come up soon and besides that, I had lost my military deferment when I was academically disqualified from Ball State where I majored in parties. So, in an unheroic act, I volunteered for the draft.
I wrote about my experiences in the service in 2015, which I titled, “On Being a Veteran”. Those experiences were a formative part of the person I have become and, from that point-of-view, as a veteran, I offer these additional musings on our current state of world affairs.
While we salute veterans as heroes, and rightly so, in this day and age heroes are multiplying exponentially, all around us. We need only to be aware of all the victims of Covid 19, and, therefore, all the caregivers, all the medical workers, all the family members and friends who pray for and grieve for those who have lost their battle. The numbers of heroes is nearly endless, as we redefine family stay-at-home activities, home schooling, mask wearing, social distancing, quarantines and isolations, and all that contribute to the fight to defeat this scourge.
Our prayers need to extend to all of those within our circle of acquaintances, loved ones, and beyond. I like Billy Graham’s quote that when strong people stand up and respond to need, “the spines of others are stiffened”. We take courage from their courage. We take bravery from their bravery. And we take Grace from their God given grace, and we, in turn, are strengthened.
So, here’s to the heroes, every single one of them. God bless them, all. Amen.
Bulletin Board:
Quotable quotes –
Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened. — Rev. Billy Graham
Women are like teabags. We don’t know our true strength until we are in hot water. — Eleanor Roosevelt
A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles. — Christopher Reeve
Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved. — Helen Keller
Closing Prayer:
Almighty God, You know every veteran by name. You know their deeds, their hard work, and their perseverance. You know their needs, both material and spiritual. Please draw each one closer to you and grant them all the peace that passes understanding, the peace of Christ to rule in their hearts, and ‘joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand’ forevermore. Amen.
God our Father, giver of life, we entrust the United States of America to your loving care. You are the rock on which this nation was founded. You alone are the true source of our cherished rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Reclaim this land for your glory and dwell among your people.
Send your Spirit to touch the hearts of our nation’s leaders. Open their minds to the great worth of human life and the responsibilities that accompany human freedom. Remind your people that true happiness is rooted in seeking and doing your will. Grant us the courage to reject the “culture of death.” Lead us into a new millennium of life. We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
