We have holidays for a reason. They are days marked and set apart to remind us of something special and important. Otherwise, our fast-paced days run together leaving only the change of seasons to remind us that time is moving forward. We need a day to remind us of past people, places, and events that helped in making us who we are today.

A day like Memorial Day, a weekend really, that reminds us of loved ones who have died and remain in our hearts. Yet, this holiday has a purpose beyond our own lives, our loves, and our losses. It is a day to remember so many we never knew. A time to stop and think about the loss of life required to keep our people safe and free. Each one is a dear and precious gift from God. Some are known to us and some unknown, some recently lost, and others before we were born.

This week, I had the privilege to read a letter from a 99-year-old veteran of World War II. He sent it out to a group of friends of which my parents are a part, which is how I came to read it. He was the pilot of a B-24 bomber which was shot down over Germany in 1944. Of the crew of nine, four were killed and two were disabled for life. All the survivors became POWs (prisoners of war). His last remaining crewmember passed away this year leaving him the lone survivor. The letter was filled with information, particularly about his crew, his friends. At the end of the letter, he thanked the reader for “listening” because he wants “their memory to be refreshed as their stories continue to be told again and again.” I didn’t know them, but they and so many others earned the right to be remembered.

So in between the barbecue, the lake, family, and friends, I hope you’ll take a moment to reflect on the people we have known, and those we will never know, who made our way of life, freedom, and opportunities possible.

I pray for God’s peace for you all and hope you will join us Sunday as we worship and give thanks for Jesus Christ who gave his life for each and every one.

Pastor Rick