I spent yesterday with memories of friends who have served in the military or are still serving . . . and relatives who had served before I was born and the shadows of their experiences hung over them somehow, though in our family there was a pact never to talk about the Wars or their service. And I was thinking about the movies and stories we grew up with as Baby Boomers. They were all about what our parents and grandparents went through with World War I, the Depression, World War II, the Korean War. As Baby Boomers we were deeply affected by the war in Southeast Asia . . the Cold War. And our children's generation joined us in the first Gulf War . . . then former Yugoslavia, Afghaniatsn, and Iraq.
Ultimately honoring those who gave the "last full measure" is one thing. But also concerning the living who return, no one comes back from war the same -- those who live sometimes give even more of themselves that those who have died, in a stange way. I don't meant to take anything away from those who suffered and died, or their family and friends who mourn them still. And those military members who were prisoners of war must be recognized and honored in a special way.
Ultimately honoring those who gave the "last full measure" is one thing. But also concerning the living who return, no one comes back from war the same -- those who live sometimes give even more of themselves that those who have died, in a stange way. I don't meant to take anything away from those who suffered and died, or their family and friends who mourn them still. And those military members who were prisoners of war must be recognized and honored in a special way.
We need to work harder to replave violence and the threat of violence . . . and the hatred that leads to war with love and care . . . focusing on what we have in common . . . rejoicing in our differences and homoring nd respecting everyone. . . .forgiving and working toward reconciliation . . . asking for forgiveness and making reparations . . . being in true peace and fellowship with all those we share out planet with -- we have to work harder . . .bless those who persecute us and spitefully use us . . . share what we have and make love in action, justice, peace and mercy the focus of our thoughts and actions.
As a veteran I understand what every person in uniform may have to face, Everyone I knew was a patriot an believed in all he or she gave up in order to serve. The most important way of honoring veterans is being faithful to them -- taking care of family members left bereft. Making sure that veterans benefits are fully funded and go beyond the minimum.
We are not working hard enough to bring God's peace . . wholeness, equal opportunity, freedom from fear, freedom from want. Beyond non-violence . . . caring and loving actively.
Love is not a feeling. Love is a made up of decisions and carrying out those decisions actively day by day asn the God Who Is Love leads us.
Veterans Day is not really about nationalism. The concern is for people who were willing to or did give up their lives for oters -- family and friends . . . and people they would never know.
We need to work harder so that the people we honor served longer and longer ado, and instead we celebrate the peace and prosperity that is the goal of God for life on earth for all people.
We need to work harder.
Kathleen Ware Harris © 2013
kwharris777@gmail.com
Kathleen Ware Harris © 2013
kwharris777@gmail.com
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