The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
²     He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
³     he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
    for his name’s sake. – Psalm 23

This morning’s brief post (it’s another very busy day) hangs on a short conversation I had with my niece at Arlington National Cemetery Thursday afternoon.

The occasion was her grandmother’s funeral – Rebekah’s sister Rachel’s husband Tom’s mom. Rebekah and I drove up simply in solidarity and love for Tom.

So after the service at the Old Post Chapel, Fort Myer, we went out to the amazingly beautiful cemetery for the internment. It was a perfect fall day, with mild temperatures, blue skies, and trees turning color. There is a cumulative gravity to the sprawling grounds at Arlington that is impossible to miss.

Faith, my niece, said that she had expected the huge graveyard to be more sad, depressing – but she didn’t feel that way at all. Instead, she felt positive, almost uplifted.

“It’s because this place is so packed full with amazing stories,” I said. “Courage, struggle, joy, pain, love, service, sacrifice. Real life. What this place is really about is who these people were, and the stories that they all lived.”

If you haven’t visited Arlington, take the time. It will get under your skin, yes; but maybe it should.

– DEREK

Yesterday’s story (respectfully), in pictures: