Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Thoughts on Veteran's Day

In the Western World, November 11 is known as Armistice Day, or Remembrance Day or Veterans' Day. All of those have to do with remembering the devastation of war and our occasional relief that one of them is over. Today was no exception. I honor and appreciate all those, like my dad, who went to war to find a way to keep our society free to make choices, because of the regimes that would take away choice and destroy life as we know it.

But let me say clearly:  I. Hate. War.

I hate what war does to people and to societies, turning them into cesspools of hate and willing killers. Killing the prime of every young generation in the prime of their lives. Turning vast areas of landscape into zones of desolation. Leaving behind innumerable wailing, grief-stricken widows and families, stunned children and mourning communities.

Jesus told the disciples in Matt. 19:13-15 to let little children come to him, "For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.”

War is a madness engendered by a lack of the qualities of children that Jesus praised by his reference that day. A complete lack of the humble, happy, teachable and quick to forgive mind of a child. A complete lack of ability to focus on the really important things in life, like a good game of hopscotch, learning to skip rope, and the refreshment of a warm fresh cookie or a cold glass of lemonade. A lack of humanity, if you really get down to it -- the humanity that Jesus came to restore and to give back to us broken kids.

But today, let's give thanks for those who gave their all to keep us safe by giving up their own safety and marching straight into the madness of war. And let's remember to lean into the bosom of Jesus who himself will teach us to be childlike and loving. And pray with me, please, the words of John in Revelation 22:20: "Yes indeed, come quickly, Lord Jesus."

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