A Home For Everyone

Psalms 113

Today is Memorial Day in the States. It's a day when we remember those who have fought, and still fight, for the freedoms we enjoy. Freedoms such as the right to gather as organized people to speak for or against the the things we agree or don't agree with, participate in that which helps us in our spiritual growth best, and the right to protect ourselves are just a few of what those who do battle in far away lands ensure we enjoy now and into the future.

But at what cost?

Last night my wife and I watched a Memorial Day Concert on our local PBS station. The concert did well in recognizing our active and retired Armed Services members, as well as those who have given their lives on the line of battle. However, there was one particular battle which they highlighted that brought me to tears.

In 2001 twin brothers, Earl and Joseph Granville, enlisted in the Army National Guard thinking they would never be called into service. It was an opportunity to volunteer for their country while at the same time earning a college degree. Then, as world events have a way of doing so, September 11 happened and their lives were changed forever.

As it would happen one thing led to another, and soon enough Earl became wounded when a roadside IED exploded, causing him to lose his leg. Joe didn't take it well, already feeling depressed for losing another good friend in an earlier deployment, and after years of trying to deal with those and other issues he gave up trying and committed suicide on December 18, 2010.

Those around Joe Granville knew something wasn't right, but had no idea he was capable of doing such a thing. They all reached out as much as they could, but for some reason they couldn't reach in far enough to help him. This story stayed with me all the way through this morning until reading the passage for today.

The Psalm for today does a great job praising God and reminding us that God takes care of everyone, even those considered to be outcasts of society. The Psalm reminds us that even the poor and the barren woman are recipients of all that God provides and is not considered or treated as anything less than an equal to all of creation. I read the last verse of this Psalm and thought that no matter what we're going through or what life throws at us we will always have a place to go where love never fails - the house of God.

Later today we're planning to go to the 15th Annual Lantern Floating Ceremony. My wife and I have gone every year and do everything we can to go. It's amazing to us how this event has grown from a few hundred participants to over 40,000. A part of the ceremony is the releasing of lanterns with messages written to loved ones who have passed on from this life (this year they're expecting 6000 lanterns to be floated). It's always amazing to feel, actually feel, the freedoms each person feels as the lanterns are floated off the shores of Ala Moana Beach.

Those who have gone before us can never be forgotten, just as those who are still here and need help should never be left alone. Sometimes we don't see just how deep the pain goes into those who are closest to us. Sometimes all we have is our gut feeling, and our compassion.

Sometimes that's enough. Freedom comes from the knowledge people love enough to never give up on you. Just as our soldiers continuously fought and fight for our freedoms, so should we do the same for those around us. Never give up on letting your love be the saving force they might be looking for.