It’s the “kickoff” of
the summer season!
It’s time to open the cottage!
It’s a three day weekend!
Such is our perspective on Memorial Day weekend.
Memorial Day weekend often marks an opportunity for families
to gather, to enjoy the first taste of what summer will bring, to get away from
home and visit others, or if you are lucky enough, to open the cottage. When we lived in Traverse City Memorial Day
weekend was important for economic reasons.
When you live in a tourist town every long summer weekend is important
for financial survival.
Lost in all of this is the origin of Memorial Day. It is a government holiday set aside to
remember those from our Armed Services who have given their lives in defense of
our nation. In many communities there
will be parades, services and acknowledgements of this origin. However, those celebrations are overshadowed
by other cultural priorities.
Remembrance is important.
Pausing to give thanks is central to the lives of those of us who follow
Jesus. Jesus taught: “Greater love has no man than this, that he
lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) Laying down your life for someone is an act
of love. Remembering those who have done
that is important.
The hymn, “Come Thou
Fount of Every Blessing”, written in 1758, contains this line:
“Here I raise my Ebenezer”.
It is a phrase that is taken directly from a story in I
Samuel 7:12. The people of Israel have
been engaged in a long series of battles with the Philistines. The Philistines captured the ark of the covenant,
a symbol of God’s presence for the Israelites.
God sent plagues on the Philistines and they returned the ark, but more
battles ensued. Samuel offered
sacrifices to God and prayed fervently for deliverance and when the Philistines
approached God thundered with a great thunder and in the confusion that
followed the Israelites defeated the Philistines.
As a reminder of the great victory God gave to Israel,
Samuel took a stone and raised it as a memorial. He called the stone Ebenezer, or “stone of help” saying, “Thus far, has the Lord helped us.” (I Samuel 7:12) Whenever the Israelites looked at the stone,
they would remember how God had helped them.
When we sing those lyrics, we are
remembering that we only are who we are, have what we have, and have
accomplished, what we have accomplished
by God’s providence, love and strength.
So, while we are relaxing this weekend, or enjoying the
weather, or family, or food, or second homes, let’s pause and remember, that we
are who we are, have what we have and have accomplished what we have accomplished,
because of the sacrifice of others and
God’s blessing.
~Rev
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