Memorial Day…
This morning’s newspaper featured the story of a World War II veteran who died not long ago without ever telling his family that he had earned six medals, including the bronze star between the years of 1943 and 1945. In fact, he never claimed them.
So after some research done by his grandsons, the medals were given to his widow. The officer in charge of locating people like this explained that it is not uncommon. I hold a fairly significant medal as well, he explained, but I don’t feel that I deserve it. I was doing my duty and I didn’t do anything that many others did not do.
For some people, the challenge in staying morally and spiritually focused lies with the fact that it is so difficult to chart our progress. Ground is gained and lost. The right choices are not always easily identified and, when we do live courageously, there is no one there with a medal.
Those who have done things to earn themselves medals and never claimed them have something to tell us. Courage is what we are called to exercise. Medals are not necessary.
I wondered when I read the referred article what were the soldier’s thoughts in that he did not reveal even to his wife what he went through in the war. Perhaps he wanted to spare her anguish, perhaps he was a very private person, or perhaps he thought he did not deserve medals and viewed others more significant than himself. Whatever his reasons they died with him. But there is a day coming when all thoughts will be revealed and the Lord who is Faithful and Just will be the final Judge. He will separate the sheep from the goats and the last will be first. Every deed whether good or evil will be known and rewarded accordingly. What then do we want with medals which lose all value when God rolls back the heavens and Jesus is revealed. The highest honor anyone could receive is to hear Him say well done, good and faithful servant; enter and experience joy from being with Me. I tremble at such thoughts for I truly know there is no hope for myself except the grace of my precious God.
Concerning courage I think all of us fall so short of the glory of God. Compared to heros in Scripture most lives are quite miserably viewed. But should the time come for any to be a martyr for Jesus I pray that we shall call on His Name and know He is present with us to the very end. Apostles, prophets, teachers, kings, poets and all other great people in Scripture and since then have known deep loneliness but passed through their ordeal.
If we insist upon our own way in spite of God’s gentle leadings we may experience the deep castaway of Jonah. When I imagine this prophet in the great fish I wonder what it must have been like being tossed to and fro. I’m sure all of us can testify it is no easy task going back and forth and up and down but we have all been there, done that and will most likely be there and do that again and maybe again and again. Most of all I marvel that God hears even from the belly of deepest despair and we can find light in the deepest darkness. When Jonah called did not God answer dramatically? Sadly Jonah still needed tempering even though all Ninevah repented down to the cattle and dogs from his preaching? Seems like such success would have brought Jonah humility but instead we last view him sulking at God’s mercy. How much different are we?
What can be said to such things? No height, depth, controversy, disaster, failure, misunderstanding or anything else can separate us from the love of God. If God is for us – THEN WHO CAN BE AGAINST US? Isn’t that a rather silly question considering we belong to the Almighty? We need not fear or even wonder how to chart our own course if we are lead by the Holy Spirit. It is the Lord’s doings: marvelous and glorious in everyway!
Carol Lawson