There’s a lot to talk about this morning. First, there’s the ongoing conversation vis-a-vis this weekend’s post about sexism in Christianity. Then there’s the fact that today is Memorial Day. So I’m going to write about Memorial Day and we’ll pick up the other conversation possibly tomorrow.
“I came so [you] can have real and eternal life, more and better life than [you] ever dreamed of.” – Jesus: John 10:10
SAVING PRIVATE RYAN: Rebekah asked our friend Jim Edwards to bring the message at church yesterday. Jim – who attends First Presbyterian with his family – is a Navy chaplain with a lot of experience and wisdom to go with his deep faith. He shared an illustration from the movie Saving Private Ryan that turns out to be the perfect bridge between Memorial Day and the idea of living a life-charged life.
The movie, based on a true account from WW2, picks up private Ryan’s story after his three brothers are all killed in action. Six soldiers are commissioned to find Private Ryan and to bring him safely away from the front lines. Eventually Ryan is saved, but five men die in the effort.
Later, toward the end of his life, Private Ryan visits the grave site in Northern France. He looks at the names of the five soldiers who died so that he could live and he asks his wife the following question (paraphrased). “Am I a good man? Has my life honored the sacrifice of those who died?”
LIVE LIKE WE MEAN IT: Of course it’s a question we can all ask on a day like Memorial Day. “”Does my life honor the cost of those who gave everything to secure my freedom?”
Or, thinking about faith, “How could I do anything other than live with passion and purpose in response to what Jesus has done for me?”
Living like we mean it is the least we can do. It can also be the most we can do. Regardless, it is the best that we can do.
Jesus told this simple story, but they had no idea what he was talking about. So he tried again. “I’ll be explicit, then. I am the Gate for the sheep. All those others are up to no good—sheep stealers, every one of them. But the sheep didn’t listen to them. I am the Gate. Anyone who goes through me will be cared for—will freely go in and out, and find pasture. A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. – John 10
Very well said. Thanks for the thoughts……
Would never ever happen that way in real life – Lest not in the Marines – no way.
I seriously doubt even the Army REMFs would break down a combat effective company to send them off like that…
I’ll tell you a secret…few people will want to hear or even fewer will believe unless you’ve stared the demon in the face…very few Marines or soldiers that get killed are out there dying for intangibles like God, Country and apple pie. At some point it becomes about the guy in a hole next to you. Your gonna save his life cause hes gonna save yours. At some point it becomes basic survival…they are out there for the Marine or soldier next to them. They couldn’t really give a hoot about your personal cushy freedoms at home. I know I didn’t then…and most…all the Marines I fought with, I’ll presume to speak for them, would agree.
Line Rifleman, 2nd Recon Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, USMC
-once upon another lifetime
Not a secret! I’ve heard that from a lot of people. When it comes down to it, you’re fighting for the people you are with.
Of course, that doesn’t change the fact that those of us who are safe/free etc because of the men and women in uniform can best honor those who gave everything by living the best life possible.
And I’m convinced that the best way I can say thanks to Jesus is to live with passion and commitment and faithfulness and love…
Many times in some dark days we (I) wished we were those people back home…complaining about trivial things, when all we wished for in the world was hot food, water and dry socks. and more ammo…
If someone from this world appeared in our world and said I’m gonna honor your sacrifice by living a good life…
we’d all have had a good laugh, and them told them to get lost.