It’s finally starting to feel a bit more like summer! The weather is warming up. That surprising snow that we experienced earlier in May has finally stopped (I sure hope we don’t get any more!). The birds have been busy. Plants are growing. Projects are getting tackled. I have a tiny bit of sunburn. (Yes, I applied sunscreen. No, it’s not terrible. Yes, I will apply more sunscreen in the future.) It’s starting to feel like summer.
Another thing that is a clear sign that summer is starting…Memorial Day.
Memorial Day is usually the marker, the signpost, the indication that summer is beginning, and most of the time, we like for that day to be a lot of fun. Often, Memorial Day is marked with celebration. Pools get opened. Parties take place. We have parades. We eat hot dogs. Typically, we want to start the summer off with a bang, get it kicked off in style.
This year, Memorial Day (like Mother’s Day/Easter/lots of other days) was a bit different. Most parties were canceled. There weren’t big parades and gatherings. Public pools haven’t opened. There are even talks of a meat shortage (although I’m not sure that it applies to hot dogs).
Hopefully, though, we have still remembered.
Hopefully, even though we haven’t had a parade, we’ve remembered.
Hopefully, even though we haven’t had a party, we’ve remembered.
Hopefully, even though we haven’t gone and done a cannonball in our favorite public pool, we’ve remembered.
Hopefully, even though we can’t find Johnsonville Stadium Brats (a personal favorite that has been sold out for a while) and have to eat classic hot dogs, we’ve remembered.
Hopefully, we’ve remembered that Memorial Day is not a holiday that was ever really about any of those things in the first place. Sure, Memorial Day marks the start of summer. Sure, the parties and the parades and the celebrations are great. Sure, we enjoy getting summer started off in the “right way”. Sure, we have missed all of those things. But, we all know that these things were never really at the heart of Memorial Day.
Hopefully, in spite of Memorial Day (and life) being “different,” we’ve remembered.
We’ve remembered that Memorial Day is and has always been about honoring those women and men who have died while serving their country country in the military.
Hopefully, we’ve remembered that Memorial Day is about sacrifice, and not just some little sacrifice either. Memorial Day doesn’t point to the “I’ll let you have the last piece of candy even though I really want it” type of sacrifice. Memorial Day is when we remember those who have paid the ultimate price, have given their most cherished resource, have laid down their lives.
Sacrifice.
It’s why we have the holiday. It’s why we have a 3-day weekend. It’s why we have parades and parties and celebrations and eat hot dogs at the pool with our friends. Hopefully, we’ve remembered.
It’s easy to get frustrated when we’re asked to live differently. It’s easy to get angry when things change and we can’t do all of those activities that we want to do. It’s easy to get upset about our parties being canceled or the store being out of our favorite brats.
It’s easy to forget.
Hopefully, we’ve remembered.
Hopefully, we’ve remembered the price that was paid, the lives that were laid down, the holes that have been left and will never be completely filled.
Hopefully, we’ve remembered those who are still hurting, those who are still grieving, those who are still mourning.
Hopefully, we’ve remembered those parents who have lost their children, the grandparents who have lost a grandchild, the children who have lost a parent, the spouses who have lost their life partner, the sisters and brothers who have lost a sibling, the friends who have lost their companions, the communities who have lost their citizens, the veterans who have lost those who were closer than a relative, the neighbors who have lost part of their community, the uncles, the aunts, the nephews, the nieces, and on and on and on.
Hopefully, we’ve remembered.
Hopefully, we’ve remembered the hurt. The heartache. The pain. The suffering. The loss. The tragedy.
Hopefully, we’ve remembered.
But, if I’m honest, sometimes I forget. Sometimes, I forget that Memorial Day isn’t just some holiday about me having fun and eating yummy food. Sometimes, I forget that the freedom that I enjoy did not come easily and is not maintained cheaply. Sometimes, I forget. I forget. I forget about the sacrifices that have been made, and I have to wonder, “Why?”
Why do I forget? Is it because remembering is painful? Emotional? Difficult? Is it because I’m just forgetful? Or, is it because I get so self-involved that it never even crosses my mind to remember? That I’m too worried about eating my favorite kind of grilled meat?
Hopefully, we’ve remembered. But sometimes, we forget.
This year, I hope that in the middle of the abnormal circumstance of Memorial Day, 2020 that you actually had an opportunity to remember. Remember the lives, remember the service, remember the gift, remember the sacrifice. Remember. Even as you read this and Memorial Day has passed, it’s not too late. Remember.
Memorial Day provides an opportunity for us to remember those who have given their lives in service to their country so that we who are reading this can be free.
Of course, this idea of sacrifice for freedom is not one that is limited to Memorial Day. In fact, as powerful, as meaningful, as awe-inspiring, as selfless as the sacrifices that have been made on our behalf are, they still pale in comparison to the sacrifice that has been made for our freedom by Jesus the Christ. Lives that have been laid down in service should be remembered, should be honored, should be celebrated, and I do not wish to take away from that fact. People have given their all that we might be free. They should be honored. They should be remembered. However, the freedom that we have received from the hands of so many is still not sufficient. It’s still not enough. Though it is remarkable and appreciated, it does not set us completely free. We’re still bound in chains to sin, to death, to suffering, to heartache, to hurts, to failures. Even as we remember those who have laid down their lives for me, we need more.
We need Jesus.
I’ve said it before, and I will say it again, true freedom can only be found in Jesus.
John 8:36 states that “if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
I’ve asked before, and I will ask again, have you found that freedom?
- Have you found the freedom that can come only from the Son?
- Do you know what it means to be free, truly free, completely free? Not just free to drink when you want to drink, or go where you want to go, or eat what you want to eat, but freedom from guilt, freedom from shame, freedom from the darkness, the cloud, the stain of sin? Have you found freedom in Christ?
- Have you found the freedom that can only be yours by accepting the sacrifice that Christ has made on your behalf?
- Have you witnessed the love of God in Jesus and have you responded to his grace?
- If so, do you remember?
Memorial Day has come and gone. Unofficially, summer has started. It’s easy to get busy and to forget, but I want for you to take some time and remember.
Remember that you are free this day because of those who have sacrificed on your behalf. Give thanks to God for them. (If you are able, give thanks to a family who has lost a loved one through their service.)
More importantly, remember Jesus.
Remember the One who knew no sin, who had no stain, who lived his life perfectly, who walked with the Father without shame, without blemish, without defect.
Remember the One who “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)
Remember the One who was not deserving of death, who had done no wrong, who had committed no offense, and yet who sacrificed, who laid his life down, who died for me, for you, for us.
Remember Jesus.
Remember Jesus in the way that you live. Remember Jesus in the way that you speak. Remember Jesus in the way that you love.
In all things, at all times, in all places, no matter the occasion, remember Jesus, and may His love, His grace, His mercy, His Spirit ever fill you with peace, with hope, with joy, with love, with freedom. Now and forevermore.
~ Pastor Chris
