Every Day

I know today is not Memorial Day; it’s about four days away. On that day, you and I will remember and honor men and women who died while serving in the Armed Forces of our nation. We will wave a flag, say a prayer, watch a parade and think about a family member or a neighbor who rests beneath a white marble marker. It’s a very special day, as it should be. This is called ultimate sacrifice.

When I looked at the photo this morning, my mind went first to Memorial Day and then to a jarring reality: those precisely placed markers are there 364 other days. Is the depth of my appreciation measured by one day on the calendar? Is the depth of my faith measured by my attendance weekly at a place of worship? These were not one day warriors. People of faith are not one day observers. The people resting on this hillside gave hearts and souls and lives for the sake of a history and a hope. People who follow The Way of genuine faith give hearts and souls to a memory and a man. Intentionally. All day. Every day.

I hope you will wave a flag and say a prayer on Memorial Day. They made great sacrifices. And I hope people of faith, regardless of how you express it, will dedicate every day of every week to the One who made a personal sacrifice to teach us how to live as caring human beings, how to serve each other in peace and justice, and how to follow the daily guidance of an Eternal Spirit.

Not one day. Every day. May it be so. Amen.