Remembering the Courageous, While Mourning the Cause

Wartime memorials, like this in one of Savannah, Georgia's
squares, give solemn and sad tribute to courageous lives.

With Memorial Day approaching, the counter-culture era soul song of the ‘60s, “War,” came to my mind. Originally sung by the Temptations, and later by other artists, its lyrics not only reflected the thinking of many during that era, but also mirrors our feelings today: “War, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing.”

One of the great, recurring tragedies of human history has been the ever-present reality of war – between nations, cultures, and even within nations. The founding of the United States involved the Revolutionary War, and mortal combat has never been far from our collective thinking. The War Between the States, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam war, and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East have been continual reminders of the horrific devastation of warfare.

As some take this Memorial Day to protest wars of every kind and form, this is our opportunity not to commemorate conflict, but to remember those who nobly and bravely sacrificed their lives to protect and preserve the rights and privileges we enjoy today – and often take for granted. Most of us have family members or friends among them, making this observance particularly poignant.

Many whose time on earth ended abruptly on fields and seas of battle were young men and women, with hopes and dreams still unfulfilled. They fought to protect freedom, values and ideals that were threatened by adversarial forces. The conflicts they engaged in may have been distasteful, but their heroic service should never be forgotten.

War, of course, has hardly been an American invention. The annals of time are punctuated by wars waged throughout the world. Sad as it is, warfare has been a permanent part of the sin-scarred human condition. Reading the Bible, we find numerous accounts of war between peoples – often the Israelites in battle against the Philistines, Babylonians, Hittites, Midianites, Amorites, and all the other “ites.”  

We read of the exploits of good and bad kings like Saul, David, Ahab and Jehoshaphat, as well as great warriors like Abishai, Nimrod, and a fiercely loyal soldier named Uriah the Hittite. While Uriah was in the heat of battle, King David chose to have a dalliance with his wife, Bathsheba. War, as we know, often isn’t the source of the highest virtues.

As we contemplate the horrors of war, and those who gave their lives in defense of their cause, it’s good to remember that our hope should not be placed in military might. As Psalm 20:7 states, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” Proverbs 21:31 adds, “The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the Lord.”

Yes, war might be good for “absolutely nothing,” as the song says. And it’s often difficult to discern whose “side” God is on. But in the battle against evil, not only externally but also within ourselves, our trust must always be in the Lord, not any human arsenal.

As He promises in Isaiah 41:10, "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." On this Memorial Day, it’s important to remember this.

How Can Happiness Be Such Hard Work?

Bowling is just one of many diversions we use in search of happiness.

“If our condition were truly happy, we would not seek diversion from it in order to make ourselves happy.”

Who do you suppose said this? Steve Jobs or Bill Gates? Walt Disney? The Kardashians? Not even close. It was French mathematician, scientist, inventor, philosopher and writer Blaise Pascal – and he wrote it in the mid-1600’s. More than 350 years ago – how can that be? They didn’t have cable TV (or even regular TV), smartphone apps, social media, PlayStation or Xbox, adult coloring books, virtual reality goggles, fantasy football – or fidget spinners. What could Pascal or folks back then have known about diversion?

Apparently, the notion that the path to happiness requires escaping the realities and pressures of daily life isn’t new. People were trying to find diversions back in the 17^th century, even though they lacked the high-tech gizmos that hold our fascination today. They were taking vacations, pursuing pleasure in various forms, playing games, and cultivating hobbies. But even then, it seems, happiness was elusive.   

Throughout history, mankind has explored every means possible for becoming happy. Who knew achieving happiness would be such a laborious endeavor? Even King Solomon, called the wisest man in history, understood this. The pages of the book of Ecclesiastes are filled with his conclusions about the futility of seeking happiness through things or experiences.

Even in the first chapter, Solomon didn’t leave his readers in suspense. “’Meaningless! Meaningless!’ says the Teacher. ‘Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless’” (Ecclesiastes 1:2). Don’t you wish the king had expressed how he really felt?

He writes about the pursuits and diversions he attempted in his quest for meaning – and happiness. “I devoted myself to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven…. I thought in my heart, ‘Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.’ But that also proved to be meaningless. ‘Laughter,’ I said, ‘is foolish. And what does pleasure accomplish?’ I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly – my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives” (Ecclesiastes 1:13-2:3).

Solomon tells about undertaking challenging projects – building great houses and planting fabulous vineyards, gardens and parks. He worked hard and recorded achievements beyond imagining. You name it, he tried it. There’s not a single diversion he didn’t consider.

It would be worthwhile for you to read Ecclesiastes and the wise king’s observations in their entirety. But – spoiler alert! – here’s how he summarized his pursuit of happiness: “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

Diversions, Solomon seemed to be saying, may take up time and distract our minds for a while, but ultimately, they steer us away from our purpose, the primary reason we’re here. God created us for us to serve Him, not for Him to serve us.

As Psalm 1:1-2 counsels us, “Blessed (happy) is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.”

Does this mean God is opposed to fun, or uproarious moments that leave us grinning ear to ear? Not at all. If we read the Scriptures with open minds, Old Testaments and New, we find the Lord finds much to amuse Him about the human condition. But as Jesus taught repeatedly, happiness isn’t found in stuff, no matter how much of it you have. It’s not found in status. It’s not even found in human relationships, even though they can provide many happy moments.

Ultimately, true happiness – and joy – are found only in a genuine, growing relationship with the God of all eternity, who desires that it be a relationship that lasts forever.

I like how Corine Gatti, a reporter at Beliefnet, expressed it recently: “Yes, happiness is overrated, depending on the prism you choose to view it through. By digging deeper, we can find the happiness that is not just a pretty word, but an eternal reality.”

When Lost, Look for the Right Guide

It's not always easy to tell where paths in Central Park - or life - are leading.

Imagine hiking with a group in an unfamiliar forest. You stop to look at something, maybe an intriguing plant, take a few photos, and when you look up, find the group has moved on without you. At first, you’re not worried, but 15-20 minutes later you still can’t find your group. That’s when concern sets in.

Trusting in your sense of direction doesn’t seem to be working, and you’ve wandered into a dead zone where your cell phone is useless. Even though it hurts your pride, you must admit, “I’m lost!”

Suddenly you hear thrashing nearby. It’s either a wild animal – which might not be a good thing – or another human. Thankfully, it’s a guy who looks as happy to see you as you are to see him. But then he declares, “Man, am I glad to find you! I’ve gotten turned around and have no idea how to get out of here.” Your smile melts into a frown as you think to yourself, “Great! We’re both lost!”

Last year my wife and I were in New York City and decided to trek across fabled Central Park. Most of its paths, however, curve around rather than heading north and south, or east and west. Soon it became evident we were basically walking in circles. We could see the Manhattan skyline in the distance, but that didn’t help much in determining which path was best to follow.

As other walkers and joggers passed by, we asked a couple of them if we were headed in the right direction. They both nodded their heads and proceeded along their way. Only later did I learn that when you ask New Yorkers for directions, they are either too proud to admit they don’t know, or take the attitude that if you’ve gotten yourself lost, “Too bad, sucker!”

Eventually we wandered out of the park – exiting not far from where we had entered. Moral of the story: If you’re lost, be sure to find the right guide to show you which way to go.

This is a foundational principle spiritually as well. Life at best is confusing, if not confounding, and we find ourselves confronted by many conflicting messages. Who’s right? Who’s wrong? How can we know?

During my earlier years, I explored various ideological alternatives. For a time, I bought into the “it doesn’t matter what you believe, as long as you’re sincere” mantra. I also tried “selective truth,” picking and choosing what I liked from a variety of worldviews. I finally returned to the teaching I’d not only learned in church, but also in public school, in those ancient, archaic days when no one believed you could become permanently scarred by hearing a passage from the Bible or reciting a brief prayer.

Psalm 23, also known as the “shepherd’s psalm,” opens by declaring, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake” (Psalm 23:1-3).

Although I spent many of my early adult years determined to find my own way, it was only when I submitted to God’s leadership and guidance that I could avoid the series of dead ends, road hazards and detours that had been hindering me on my life’s journey.

The next verse in the psalm has proved equally assuring: “Even though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you (Lord) are with me, your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4). Often the path ahead seems dark, uncertain, even perilous. Trusting God is walking with us, knowing well the route we need to travel, dispels anxiety and fear. That doesn’t mean there won’t be problems along the way, but He will ensure that we pass safely through the “valley,” still on course to carry out His purposes for us.

When Jesus announced to His followers, “I am the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6), He was asserting there’s no need to consider alternative routes. If we want to be sure to get to where we want to be – even at times when we’re not even sure what the destination is – He’ll get us there, on schedule.

At one point in His discourse known as the “sermon on the mount,” Jesus warned, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).

He was observing that throughout life we’ll encounter a variety of people who claim to be knowledgeable guides, who will insist they know the way. However, there’s only one true, trustworthy GPS for life, which I've defined as God’s Positioning System. Jesus has been there, He knows exactly where we need to go, and He’ll be there to welcome us when we arrive.