May 27, 2014
Forgotten Fallen
In Sunday’s worship service
there was no mention of Memorial Day, either in word or patriotic song.
However, at the end of services two people made an effort to bring the national
day of remembrance to the forefront of our minds. One middle-aged woman
requested prayers for our military men and women, both past and present. And an
elderly woman spoke up to ask if we could sing God Bless America, which we then sang a cappella. As a Veteran I’m
appreciative that these two, each from a different generation, stepping up to
call attention to the county’s fallen.
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1 comment:
Gail;
-----When I was in High School “doing your own thing” and “my bag” (or “your bag”) were the definitive terms, along with other maladies, like, “Try it, you’ll like it.” It seemed there was something that didn’t feel right to me hiding in the “innocence” of all the wonderful freedom being discovered. It wasn’t that freedom was problematic in itself. But it seemed that if freedom were king how long would it be until the court was filled with evil? Not that freedom breeds evil, but that evil thrives on chaos whereas righteousness abides in harmony. Harmony is restricted to concord. Chaos is free. Ouch.
-----Freedom is not about being unleashed. It isn’t like, “you have a bag, man,” and, “I have a bag, man,” and the two have nothing to do with each other. Decency at least seeks to respect the contents of another’s bag. Honor and goodness step further unto caring about its well being, while kindness and love extend to actually participating in the maintenance of that well being. These are bonds to one another. And bonds are like shackles.
-----It’s unfortunate that the great contribution of my generation was the throwing off of shackles. In releasing everyone from their terrible bondages we destroyed the very fiber of love we so pumped as being free. We no longer have to relate to other people’s sentiments (unless they are black, gay, untimely pregnant, or illegally across the Rio Grande.) Somehow society is supposed to thrive as that great giving tree which nobody needs to cultivate.
-----”For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love be servants of one another.” (Gal 5:13) Paul shows us here that freedom is one thing, while locus of importance is entirely another. To use freedom for the flesh is to make self the imperative. If you haven’t noticed about life, everything serves something else. The bee pollinates the flower from which he takes pollen. More unilaterally, the mouse serves the cat, the cat serves the coyote, and the coyote serves the lilies. None are free of the interlocking mechanisms of life. Only man thinks he can avail himself of a more refined life without doing some amount of refining himself.
-----Love is attention to what is right. Freedom does not excuse one from that locus. On this side of eternity, it looks like restriction, not freedom. But all chaos and self loci eventually will be quarantined unto its own place like trapped rats. That’s not too free, either. Then, on the other side of eternity, self imperative just won’t be. The only locus will be on what is right. To the glorious joy of everyone, especially God, each will be completely and entirely free to do anything, for no possibilities will exist on that side of eternity except what are right.
-----In raising high America’s banner of freedom, we have ignored the fact America is yet on this side of eternity. Here are dangerous pitfalls to individuals and society alike well populated by the careless abuse of freedom. Christmas celebrated in July. Pizza and beer for Thanksgiving. Church just isn’t my bag. And aren’t vets those people who fix your cat? God help us all. A little attention to what common makes good might help.
Love you all,
Steve Corey
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