I don’t normally write about my faith on this blog because I don’t want people to think they need to share my theological beliefs in order to benefit from living life as a responsible activist. But from time to time my pastor shares a story that fits so well into the concept of responsible activism that I must share it with you. This last week’s sermon was one such time.
He first read and talked about Luke 17:11-19 where we learned how on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus met and healed ten lepers. The lepers stood off from a distance and yelled “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” Upon hearing them Jesus told the lepers to go prove to the priests that they were clean. As the lepers turned in faith to go prove their cleanliness unto the priests they were healed. Only one former leper upon realizing he was healed turned back to glorify God and give thanks for what Jesus had done for him.
My pastor then told us about some of his experiences in Operation Desert Storm as a US Army Chaplin. He described how while the families of those serving overseas are left at home to worry over and pray for their loved ones in harm’s way, every soldier so far away does the same for family they left behind. He shared how hard it is on most soldiers to be away from their family, and how utterly helpless they feel not knowing if they are ok or how their children might be dealing without mom or dad for so long. Because of all this, war often becomes a time of becoming closer to God. In all the horrible things that make up war my pastor was privileged, honored and humbled to have a full tent every Sunday and to see so many young soldiers profess their faith to God. Many of those soldiers were even baptized out there in the sand having all their sins washed away and in a very real way were reborn in a loving personal relationship with their God and savior.
Lastly our pastor described the wonderful relief and happiness everyone felt when the war ended so quickly and everyone could go home. Spirits were high as everybody high fived and joked around while they readied themselves and their equipment for what seemed a short ride home. There was an almost festiveness in the air as everyone rushed to be the first ready to depart. As their Chaplin, my pastor decided to give one more sermon in the sand. They would thank God for all his guidance and protection, they would praise God for looking after their families, and they would exalt God for allowing a war expected to last so much longer and with many casualties to end so soon and with but a few fallen. But it was a sad day for my pastor as he gave this last sermon. His tent was not full as was normal. Only a small percentage of those who attended regularly just the week before were in attendance.
As a former soldier who later served in the same region I can attest to the truth of his observations. I saw a very similar set of events unravel when coming home from Operation Iraqi Freedom. Now as a man I must admit that I was One of the Nine. In my happiness and relief I turned my back and forgot who it was that protected me. I left God in the sand as easily as spitting out a piece of bitter fruit. I abandoned Him as though He was never needed.
Why do you think I would share this set of stories on a blog about responsible activism? What parallels can we make? I told you in the beginning that it would fit very well with the concept of responsible activism. It does. You see God isn’t the only thing we tend to forget when times are good and worries are few. God isn’t the only thing we cast to the side when our need isn’t so obvious. Why do you think there are so many more people being politically active right now? Why is it that the Tea Party, so many independent groups of regular citizens and lone individuals alike, are making their voices heard for the first time? It is because they see the need. They understand that by remaining neutral they risk watching the dream that is America drift away piece by piece until all is lost or unrecognizable. But why is it that our country finds itself in such a condition? Why must we fight to maintain our greatness and our freedoms? Why are we just now reacting to a situation that took decades to happen? It is because all those people you see getting involved now were complacent when times were good. They were too worried about what was on TV or what Britney did last week to see the world around them. They were too preoccupied living the dream to see the nightmare forming in their midst. And they were too blind to care what Washington was doing and becoming. So was I.
I challenge you to do all you can to be the best example of responsible activism. I challenge you to never give up on our country. And I challenge you to never again forget.
Feel free to leave any comments about this post you like. I really enjoy hearing what you have to say. As always I am also up for any criticisms you may have as well.
