Thought for the Week

We will be observing Veterans Day this week. A part of that observance is a service at the “Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.” Each of the Allied Nations: Belgium, France, Great Britain, Italy and the United Sates have tombs dedicated to an Unknown Soldier. The tradition began following the World War I. The tomb is located by Arlington National cemetery. In addition to the soldier from World War I, there is also a soldier from each World War II, the Korean War, and the Viet-Nam War buried nearby. There is an honor guard who stands, or rather marches, at the tomb. It is considered a high honor to be part of that guard and special qualifications must be met to be part of it. Why do we do this? Perhaps we choose to do this to honor those fallen soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and coast guardsmen, whose stories have never been told but who have made contribution in some way protecting our nation. As a nation we have been extremely blessed to have almost no military action against us actually taking place within our national borders. There are many nations who have experienced the horrors of war within their borders over decades and perhaps even centuries of time. In those cases, the victims of war frequently are women and children who play not part in the military. I read a statement that proposes the world has only experienced fourteen years in recorded history where there has been no military hostility. But of course that does not count civil or family hostility. When Cain murdered Abel, his brother, we had the beginnings of hostile bloodshed. Jesus warned His disciples that as long as this world stands, there would be wars and rumors of wars. We can and should pay tribute to those who have made sacrifice for the common good and especially those who have made the supreme sacrifice. Likely, in many cases these military people did not want to be part of the war/conflict. Someone in authority made a decision and others were swept into the conflict. We continue to think of ourselves as becoming more civilized and believe we have risen above where our ancestors were. But contrary to our human reasoning and rationale the more we depend on us and the less we depend on God, the more surely we will have trouble on every hand. We fail to believe we are sinful by nature. We have broken moral compasses. When our children were small, we had a book titled, “Me First Freddie.” Freddie constantly wanted to have his way. We used the book to try to teach our children others were important and we should consider their needs, wishes, wants and rights too. Since our children had imperfect parents, the lessons had to be considered and reviewed frequently. There was a song we remembered. I do not know its author. “Help me to live from day to day in such a self-forgetful way that even when I kneel to pray, my prayer shall be for others. Others, Lord, yes others, let this my motto be. Help me to live for others, that I might live like Thee.” I think it would be great if those who have fallen in hostile conflict would be the last to ever violently fall any place in our world. Pray the Prince of Peace will soon return with healing and blessing in His wings and He will rule and reign over all to cause all conflict to cease and no more tears fall.

Scriptures to Read

Isaiah 9:2-7 & St. Matthew 2:4-6

St. Matthew 24:3-8

St. Matthew 24:9-22

St. Matthew 24:23-35

Romans 12:12-21

I Timothy 2:1-8

Revelation 20:1-4