With all the rhetoric and broken promises…
With all the valuing of celebrity and materialism…
With all the focus on that which is less good…
Thank God for yesterday.
Something about Veterans Day is incredibly refreshing.
It wasn’t yet another holiday in which retailers or radicals have somehow zapped the sacred… like how Christmas becomes about Santa… or Easter about rabbits and eggs. (P.S. Rabbits don’t even lay eggs.)
For the most part, Veteran’s Day has remained pollution-free.
At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, the armistice ending World War I began. While May’s Memorial Day honors those who’ve died representing America, Veterans Day, November 11th, honors all those who’ve served.
In the wake again of all that is less good, Veterans Day gives us hope, highlighting those who have sacrificed more than most of us have ever even contemplated… honoring men and women who made choices in consideration of others, arguably more than consideration of self… honoring — lest one could say any better — our authentic heroes.
I am convinced that society knows not what a hero truly is.
In the days where the Lady Gaga’s and Miley Cyrus’s of the world get far too much attention — where politicians actually encourage division in order to advance their own initiatives (and selves) — and where too many believe they are entitled to too much too often — we are a country in need of heroes.
We are a country in dire need of bona fide examples of humility, valor, selflessness, faithfulness, integrity, courageous leadership, and quiet strength.
My sense is that’s what we honored yesterday.
The Census Bureau reports that there are approximately 21.2 million veterans in the United States. Along with those who’ve passed away, those are our authentic heroes. We’re in need of them.
Thank God for Veterans Day. Thank God for our veterans.
May we always honor you well.
Respectfully,
AR