Memorial Day. A day to remember those who served in our armed forces but didn’t make it home to their loved ones. It was originally celebrated by going to the graves to “decorate” them. It was a big deal. Families would gather and fix a picnic and then head out to the cemeteries or graveyards and they would clean the headstone, and weed around the grave and when they were done, they placed flowers or other memorabilia as they reminisced about the person who died. It was a time to mourn what was lost and celebrate the time they had together.
War steals so much from us. It isn’t just the loss of life, or the destruction of the earth, historical landmarks, cities and towns. It is the loss of our innocence. The loss of feeling safe. The loss of trust. The loss of all that is normal. We take ordinary days for granted. But it is in the ordinary days that extraordinary happens. In war we lose all of it. Everything is upended and nothing can be trusted because nothing is safe. It is no wonder many of our soldiers come home with PTSD. Quite frankly, war sucks.
So many young women and men, young men mostly, didn’t make it home. And yet it would be thoughts of home that kept them going. Home where their loved ones worried about their safety. Home where they had sweethearts or spouses waiting for them. Home where children wondered where daddy or mommy was. Home where it was safe, and they were loved, and no one was shooting at them. Home.
Rod Stewart, I might have mentioned he is one of my all-time favorite singers… well, he did a song called “The Rhythm of My Heart” I love the video that goes with the song as it shows a soldier going off to war and his family waiting for him at home. Spoiler alert: he makes it home. But so many did not. They died longing for home.
As people of faith, we long for home too. A place where we can once again be reunited with loved ones but particularly with God our Father. God who created each of us and who loves us passionately. I love what Sojourner Truth said about the name she took as her own. She said she chose Sojourner because she was just a traveler in this world. Her home was in Heaven with God who would make all things new once more.
Home. It is a beautiful word no matter where it is you call home.
Peace,
Pastor Beth
BTW…as always here is the link to the music:
Rod Stewart – Rhythm of My Heart (Official Video) (youtube.com)
Beth's Blog 