I had my note for today written.
Then
I watched the National Memorial Day Celebration on PBS
And
realized that I had written the wrong note.
I
need to write this one instead.
I
need to confess that I am one of the
Fortunate?
Lucky?
Sheltered?
Ones
who do not know that I know anyone who has died in battle.
Both
of my grandfathers served in WWII.
G-daddy
was part of the famous battle in Cologne, Germany, and earned a purple heart
for his service.
My
dad was in the Army Reserves for most of his adult life.
My
sister-in-law’s father served in the Vietnam War.
I
have friends who are in the military or who have family members currently
serving in the Armed Forces.
But
I, personally, do not know that I know anyone who has died in battle.
Sometimes
I think that it’s not fair.
Sometimes
I feel guilty for not fully understanding the pain.
Sometimes
I feel bad for being thankful for a day off work.
Sometimes
I feel so privileged and entitled that I hang my head in shame.
Last
night on the PBS Broadcast,
A
family shared their story of loss.
The
mother spoke of how on the first Memorial Day after her son’s death,
The
family received probably 100 phone calls.
The
next year it went to 75,
Then
25,
And
now hardly anyone remembers.
But
the family does.
Every
day they remember their loss.
Every
day, they said, is their Memorial Day.
Friends:
I
don’t know that I know anyone who has died in battle,
So
I don’t know how to directly honor Memorial Day.
And
maybe you’re so
Fortunate?
Lucky?
Sheltered?
That
you don’t know that you know either.
So
maybe we should start not by saying “Happy Memorial Day,”
Because
it’s not exactly a happy day,
But
by shedding tears for those who are hurting,
And
sending love and light and prayers
To
a people who are mourning,
And
pausing from our day to be
Thankful
That
we don’t carry the heavy burden of loss
Brought
on by sacrifice.
Dear
God: Be with those who are hurting today. And help those of us who don’t know
that we know someone who has died in battle to be light and love and all things
good to everyone we meet, for we don’t know what they’re going through. And
God? Help us to remember. Tangibly and intangibly. Help us to remember. Amen.