Stopping to Take a Breathe

I had the wonderful treat of writing a guest blog for my good friend Sue Tell this week. It was a joy and an honor. I think that you'll find that so far my year has been loaded with lessons. I would urge you to stop by Echoes of Grace at suetell.com and read what I shared and some of the other insightful blogs that are posted there. Here is the link.

http://suetell.com/stopping-take-breath/

A Different View of the Flag

Today is Flag Day! With Memorial Day just past and the Fourth of July approaching quickly, I don't usually give June 14, Flag Day, much thought. But this year I've had a different view of the Flag and an opportunity to think about the day that commemorates the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as our national symbol in 1777. The idea of a day to honor our flag was first conceived in 1885, but wasn't officially adopted until 1949 after World War II and......after Pearl Harbor. It was this place, and a new view of our flag, that has caused me to think more deeply about this day and the great cost for the freedom to fly that flag.

The Arizona Memorial at Sunset

You see, last week I was in Hawaii and had the rare opportunity to tour Pearl Harbor and visit the Arizona Memorial in the quiet of the evening. We were a small party on a private tour with some very knowledgeable guides. I'd been there before, but this time repetition sunk in and new facts struck home. December 7, 1941 was a horrific tragedy! The carnage and destruction were great.

The attack by the Japanese occurred suddenly and catastrophically. Words cannot begin to describe the awful horror and shocking devastation of that morning that pushed the United States into World War II.


It would take too much time to tally the complete toll. but four of eight battleships were sunk along with numerous other vessels, 188 aircraft were destroyed, 2,400 Americans were killed and 1,178 others were wounded. Many of those who died still lie in watery graves below, entombed in several vessels that remain in the harbor, the greatest number in the Battleship Arizona. Much of Pearl Harbor lay in ruins after that fateful day.

The Battleship Utah

The destruction and loss were great; but there were also tales of valor. Many of the commanders were not even aboard their vessels at 7:48 a.m. on a Sunday morning, so many decisions and a great part of the valiant defense of Pearl Harbor was due to the efforts of the younger soldiers who made their home on the ships. And it was only by God's grace that a third wave of devastation did not take place, a wave that might have completely destroyed the ability of the Pacific Fleet to enter the fight and win the battles that were so crucial to ending the war.

Once again I was reminded that freedom really is not free! We hear that all of the time, but it is so true and it is something we need to be reminded of as the last of the survivors of that day pass away. (Only five now remain.) We live in an increasingly dangerous world in which terror has taken on a new and even more devious form. The Stars and Stripes still fly. But there are several things that we need to remember on this Flag Day. Our freedom was won at a terrible cost, and we must be aware and prepared for a time yet future when others will undoubtably need to join those who already are defending that freedom.

Those Who Died on the Battleship Arizona

Also, God cannot honor a nation that turns it's back on Him. Am I saying that we should not show love to or care for those of other faiths? No! Christ taught us to love our fellow man. But we must remember that evil exists in many forms and only by honoring the God of heaven and earth and living by His Word can we expect His continued blessing on a country that was founded upon His promises.

This Flag Day may we respect this symbol of our freedom, be grateful for those who have given so much to preserve it. And may we also live in a way honors the godly principles upon which this nation was founded.

                                                                          

 If my people who are called by my name

 humble themselves and pray and seek my face 

and turn from their wicked ways, 

then I will hear from heaven and will

forgive their sin and heal their land.

II Chronicles 7:14