Today in the U.S., it is Memorial Day.
Today is the day we remember and honor those soldiers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in battle, dying to preserve the freedoms we often take for granted.
Memorial Day has taken on deeper meaning for many of us in the past few years, as now over 4000 US troops have lost their lives in Iraq.
It is a day of mourning; but it is also a day of celebration. People visit the cemeteries and memorials, but people also have get-togethers, have a barbecue, or go to the lake. I think in a way both kinds of expressions are fitting. It is appropriate to honor the dead. It is also appropriate to celebrate and and enjoy the freedoms for which such a dear price has been paid. It is what our fallen soldiers would want for those they left behind.
It is not appropriate to forget. It is not appropriate to take freedom for granted. We must remember that freedom is not free. And that is why we observe Memorial Day.
Our president has called for a moment of remembrance at 3pm local time to honor the fallen. I invite you to observe this moment with us.
Remember.
Wayward Son
Musician. Composer. Recovering perfectionist. Minister-in-transition. Lover of puns. Hijacker of rock song references. Questioner of the status quo.
I'm not really a rebel. Just a sincere Christ-follower with a thirst for significance that gets me into trouble. My quest has taken me over the fence of institutional Christianity. Here are some of my random thoughts along the way. Read along, join in the conversation. Just be nice.
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“Thy hand, Belinda, darkness shades me,
On thy bosom let me rest,
More I would, but Death invades me;
Death is now a welcome guest.
When I am laid, am laid in earth, May my wrongs create
No trouble, no trouble in thy breast;
Remember me, but ah! forget my fate,
Remember me, remember me, but ah! forget my fate.”
(Sounds better with the wonderful music)
Dido’s Lament from Dido and Aeneas by Henry Purcell.
I used this music and the following chorus at our Remembrance day service.
Beautiful. Didn’t Dido do that “White Flag” song?
(Just kidding.) 🙂