Trust AND Obey » patriotism

On Veterans Day

Dave Miller — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 01:57:39 +0000

A wave of patriotism swept through this land of ours nearly 70 years ago. Nobody under the age of 60, myself included, really knows what it was like to live in America at that time. Americans were united in purpose in a way that this country hasn’t seen since. Children collected tin cans, rubber and paper. Women planted Victory Gardens, saved fat, and hung service flags in their windows. Men were called to become soldiers.

They were called from their lives as farmers, accountants, carpenters, doctors, and all professions. The rich and the poor alike were called away from their homes, their jobs, their families and their friends to take an oath to defend the Constitution. To leave behind everything, and swear to God to defend something that many of them had never read before. This meant training to become soldiers, and being a soldier means you are trained to kill. Good men, reluctant men, were told that they would be shipped to Europe, or North Africa, or some small islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean; to fight and to kill the enemy of the Constitution, the enemy of Freedom; to fight against tyranny.

It is said that, “All of them gave some, and some of them gave all.” There are 9,386 of the men who gave all, buried in a cemetery at St. Laurent-sur-Mer. This cemetery is located on a bluff, overlooking a beach in Normandy, France; which, in June of 1944 was known as Omaha. It is in this cemetery that a recent film makes its start. Saving Private Ryan is a story about a squad of Rangers who are ordered to penetrate enemy lines to locate and retrieve a soldier named Ryan. Ryan had three brothers who, unbeknownst to him, were all killed in action and it was determined that the last Ryan should be returned home, lest his mother lose all her sons in the war.

So eight rangers risk their lives for one man. One man that their commanders decided was more important than any one of them. Needless to say, not all of them are thrilled with the prospect of piercing the enemy’s line to bring back just one man. These men had sworn an oath though, so they went.

As it is in war, it is also in war movies; not everyone in the squad survives to the end. When one of the rangers is hit with enemy fire, he motions Ryan over to him. He says two very important words to him. Two words, before he dies:

“Earn This.”

In that moment, that soldier became every veteran speaking to every American. Earn what we all fought for and what many of us died for. Think of us often. Remember our names. Do not forget us. And that is the request of all the young men who have died in all the wars – from Normandy to the Cho-sin Reservoir. From Da Nang to the Persian Gulf. From Somalia to Kosovo.

Earn this.

I have since realized that my own free and bountiful life has been baptized in the blood of the soldiers of World War II, and of all other wars. I have realized that the 9,386 men buried at St. Laurent, though a fraction of the total that died, did for me, in a very real way, what those Rangers did for Ryan. I have realized that the men who fought, and lived, and came home and are living out their lives right now did the same… for me. Perhaps I owe all of them an accounting of how well I’ve lived, of whether I’ve earned what they’ve bequeathed to me and to the world.

I struggle today, wondering if I can ever make the equation balance. Deep down I know that there is nothing that I can ever do to earn what they did for me. There is no accounting to balance the equation of even one man dying for me, let alone… thousands.

And yet, it is exactly that which brings me to church each week. The realization that one man – one man – did die for me. And I am faced with the same question: “Am I living my life as though Jesus had said ‘Earn this?’”^[1] How many of us actually live our lives with that goal in mind… to show Jesus that we know what He sacrificed… and that we are grateful enough to try to live the best lives we can by doing what Jesus said for us to do.

I realize now that each one of the thousands of marble crosses in that cemetery in Normandy, represents something like a crucifixion. Though nothing like what Jesus did, everyone buried there – most of them very young – died so someone else could live.

So how do we begin to give an accounting? We begin by remembering. Remembering the fallen soldier who never returned, remembering those that did return, scarred and scared, and different somehow. Remembering is how we begin again in Christ. By sitting at His table, eating and drinking of Him, and remembering the One who gave all.

Then we must be thankful. Giving thanks to God is something we do easily. We do it at the beginning of each day, before each meal, and when we lie down. We must also be thankful to those reluctant warriors who fought against tyranny so that we may be free. Don’t assume that they know the world is thankful. Do your part; tell a Veteran today that you are thankful for the sacrifices that they made on the altar of freedom.

Finally, we must let our light shine. You know the children’s song, “This little light of mine.” Well, that is all we need to do, finally, to earn this. Don’t hold back any action that is good. No matter how small and insignificant it may seem… Do it. Edmund Burke said, “All that is required for evil to triumph, is for good men to do nothing.” The gift that we have received from our Veterans is Freedom, and the cost of freedom is eternal vigilance. We must guard and protect this rare and precious gift. We must be vigilant, we must not allow evil to triumph easily. A small bit of good now may prevent a great evil later.

On Veterans Day, and everyday, this is what we need to do to “earn this.” Remember; Give Thanks; and Let Our Light Shine.

Remember all the men and women who gave their lives for freedom.

Give thanks to all the men and women, still with us, who gave of themselves when it was required. And finally, don’t let the torch go out.

Keep the light of the torch that they passed to us burning brightly by adding just a little of our own light to it. These are the things that we need to do as Christians, and as Americans; so that we may continue to enjoy Freedom, Liberty and Justice.

Let us live our lives so that at its end we can look into the face of Jesus with joy as He says, “Well done, my child… now enter into your rest.”

[1] Of course there is no way that we can earn what Jesus did for us. His perfect gift of atonement is given by grace through faith alone. It is a free and priceless gift. All I am saying is that as saved Christians, we should live our lives like Jesus wants us to. If we try to earn our way to heaven, we become legalistic like the Pharisees.

On Veterans Day

Dave Miller — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:07:41 +0000

They were called from their lives as farmers, accountants, carpenters, doctors, and all professions. The rich and the poor alike were called away from their homes, their jobs, their families and their friends to take an oath to defend the Constitution. To leave behind everything, and swear to God to defend something that many of them had never read before. This meant training to become soldiers, and being a soldier means you are trained to kill. Good men, reluctant men, were told that they would be shipped to Europe, or North Africa, or some small island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean; to fight and to kill the enemy of the Constitution, the enemy of Freedom. To fight against tyranny.

“Earn This.”

Earn this.

On Veterans Day, and everyday, this is what we need to do to “earn this.” Remember; Give Thanks; and Let Our Light Shine.

Remember all the men and women who gave their lives for freedom.

Give thanks to all the men and women, still with us, who gave of themselves when it was required. And finally, don’t let the torch go out.

Let us live our lives so that at its end we can look into the face of Jesus with joy as He says, “Well done, my child… now enter into your rest.”

Have Faith – Go Vote

Dave Miller — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:40:57 +0000

[This article was originally published on November 2, 2002]

Why Vote?

I’ve been puzzling over that question for a few days so I decided to enlist the help of my family and friends in getting an answer. I asked the same two questions of each person, “Do you vote?” and “Why?” The answers didn’t vary greatly, but the reasons why did.

One of my co-workers said that he votes because it is the best way to express his political beliefs. He decides whether or not he supports someone, then votes accordingly. In his words, “If I don’t like a guy, I vote the bum out!” He makes it sound like he is the only one voting in the election. My impression is that he believes his vote really makes a difference. Almost to the point of believing that his vote is the only one that does make a difference! He is a man of great faith in more ways than I can list.

My minister initially said that he votes because it makes him feel patriotic and because it is the responsibility of every good citizen to vote. He admits, though, that the real reason is because his grandmother worked the polls for many years, and he feels he has a duty to her memory to vote in every election. She worked every Election Day, even late into her life. This was her way of teaching her entire family the importance of voting; not just by telling them, but by showing them.

My mother votes regularly as well. She draws a parallel between voting and singing in the church choir. “My voice alone may not be heard by anyone, but by blending with the other voices in the choir, I know I add strength to the sound and make a difference.” Her sister sees voting as a privilege, one that many people do not have. She goes to the polls with a thankful heart, fully cognizant of the suffragettes who had to fight for the privilege of voting.

I was very interested to learn that the word “suffrage” has an alternate meaning, “A short intercessory prayer.”

The more I understand people’s reasons for voting the more I realize that the act of voting and the act of praying are very closely related. There are, of course, differences between voting and praying. Most obviously, we don’t send our votes to an all-powerful, all-knowing benevolent Creator. (Though I’m sure there are those who have exactly that view of our government.) Also, we usually get the results of our voting in a very short time. Praying doesn’t always provide feedback so quickly.

In each case, though, the participant must have a great deal of faith. Faith in themselves to make an informed decision. Faith in their fellow man to do the same. Faith in the poll workers to do their job correctly. Faith in the board of elections to count every vote and tabulate them correctly. Faith in the chosen candidates to perform their duties honorably and uphold their oath of office. And especially, faith that our great nation will continue to be great.

Likewise, when we pray, we have faith that we are praying for something worthwhile. We have faith that God will hear our prayers. We have faith that God will answer our prayers. We have faith that God will do what is right for us regardless of what we were praying for in the first place.

Whether you vote because you feel patriotic, or you feel duty-bound, or because you are thankful for the privilege, or even just because your grandma would want you to, doesn’t really matter. If you want a certain candidate elected, or a particular issue passed, don’t just pray for it to happen. Do what you can to make it happen.

Have faith, go vote.