Memorial Memories

My memories of Memorial Day while growing up in Upstate New York are of Spring in full bloom and signs of warm summer weather approaching, a few more weeks of school (we didn’t get out till the middle of June), the first downtown parade of the year, the Indy 500 on the radio and full anticipation of an unruly summer vacation. Well, the last part never happened because my dad saw to it that we kids were busy doing something constructive, keeping us out of trouble. Anyway, Memorial Day never really meant much to me, I guess because I had no personal stake in death due to war. I only remember my mother speaking about her brother never returning from WWII with no recorded loss, just “Missing In Action”. His memory lived in a picture hanging on the wall, in honor, at grandmas house, with no known grave site to visit. At the risk of sounding bitter, at my High School graduation many of the males in the class were going to war and it was only a matter of time that the draft would catch up to most of us and like it or not, Uncle Sam would be steering the direction of life for a period of time. I’ve pondered the thought of where I would be and what I would be doing today if it weren’t for war, but I don’t worry about it, because I know I’m right where God wants me to be.
If there’s anything good in war it would be learning survival disciplines which carry over into whatever one involves themselves in the rest of their life. Fred and his wife Edna went to the state fair every year. Every year Fred would say, “Edna, I sure would like to fly in one of them there airplanes.” Edna would reply, “I know Fred, but it’s ten dollars to ride and ten dollars is ten dollars.” Finally, one year Fred said, “Edna, I’m 71 years old. If I don’t ride that airplane this year I may never get another chance.” Edna reminded Fred, “But ten dollars is ten dollars.” The pilot overheard the little spat and said, “Folks, I’ll make you a deal. I’ll take you both up for a ride, if you promise to not say one word the entire ride. Added to that, if you’re quiet the whole ride I won’t charge you the ten dollars.” Fred and Edna agreed, and up they went. The pilot did every stunt in the book, twice, but never heard a sound out of his passengers. After landing the pilot turned to Fred and said, “By golly, I did everything I could think of to get you to yell out, but you didn’t.” Fred replied, “Well, I was going to say something when Edna fell out of the plane, but ten dollars is ten dollars!” Discipline; that’s what I’m talkin’ about!
[Ephesians 6: 10-18] Memorial Day, first known as Decoration Day, was established following the American Civil War as a time of national mourning. It was instituted to honor the war dead and to renew ones pledge to an undivided republic. Each and every one of us is at war every day. “…not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” In the Christian life there is also a memorial day, a communion, and a remembrance, which Christ established for the unified body of the church. From the beginning, the church has gathered together in memory of the risen Christ on the first day of the week, the day of the resurrection, sharing in that communion which Jesus said to do in remembrance of Him, until his return. Don’t be declared “missing” following the Judgment Day. Put your armor on! In the name of Jesus, fight a good fight, and maybe one day physical war will be no more.