Memorial Response
Courage is our not-so-secret weapon to take on more than we think we can handle and do our best in the face of overwhelming odds.
-The Miracle Collectors
May 25, 2023
May is nearly gone: the flowers are in bloom, the snow has (mostly) melted, we have celebrated mothers, and now all that is left is to acknowledge the meaning behind Memorial Day. This month Joan honors those that died in the service of our country and reminds us that we all have a role to play in ensuring that the peace and freedom they fought to protect is now our responsibility.
Collecting Miracle Moments One Story at a Time.
Joan and Katie
As I write this the Memorial Day weekend is fast approaching. With it comes the opportunity to reflect on the selfless sacrifice offered by so many for freedom. We talk a lot about a continuum of miracles from the thunderbolt miracles we all learned about as children - the parting of the Red Sea or the Resurrection of Jesus - to the smaller miracles of everyday life - the beauty of nature, the series of events that act as waves of grace touching each of our lives - and I am struck by the magnitude of the gift that these soldiers gave so that we might be free. A miracle indeed, inspiring awe and wonder at their contribution.
They say there are no atheists in foxholes that at the moment of being overwhelmed or feeling that all hope is lost, the heavens are bombarded by fervent prayers for survival, or if not that, then for the continued care and well-being of those loved ones left behind. Steven Pemberton in his book, The Lighthouse Effect, notes, "...we need not cede heroism to the famous and well-informed..." we all can be heroes as those from the myriad of walks of life whom we celebrate this weekend most certainly are.
Many of those who did come home and have lived to tell their stories recount a miracle or two that made their survival possible. In fact, many miracle stories have a basis in wartime like the spontaneous cease fire on Christmas Eve on the Western Front in World War I, or the evacuation of 300,000 soldiers from Dunkirk in World War II, or the multiple miracles in Israel's Six-Day War. While these events are remarkable in their own way, this Memorial Day the miracle I hope for amidst the war in the Ukraine, the uprising in Sudan, and the ongoing uncertainty of the middle east is the miracle of peace. For that, I find the worlds of Albert Einstein to be inspiring as well as challenging, "Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be kept by understanding."
As we have found throughout our miracle journey, miracles by their very nature draw us closer, to a better understanding of each other. Through miracles we can find and celebrate our commonalities and deepen our connection to each other. As St. Francis of Assisi requested so many centuries ago, "Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace..." It is a good place for each of us to start and may be the best way to honor those who have given their lives. (Joan)