When soldiers were preparing to land on the Normandy beaches, their officers told them, “When you’re hit, fall on the barbed wire.”
Not “if” you get hit, but “when.”
Because the D-Day invasions were so dangerous, officers assumed the casualty rate would be astronomical. Soldiers were going to die and there wasn’t anything anyone could do about that. So, if you’re going to get wounded or killed running onto the beach, the least a soldier could do was fall across the barbed wire and take out obstacles for the soldier behind you. That way, the soldier following you could step on you and keep moving to capture the beachhead.
Every generation has the responsibility of making the world better for the generations who follow them. In the United States, we have benefited greatly from those generations who have gone before us. The “Greatest Generation” won world wars, built great economies, and established the most powerful nation in the history of the world.
Now, what do we owe those who have gone before us and those who will come after us?
A lot of sacrifices have been made to make our lives possible. How do we live our lives so no one regrets the sacrifices they have made for us? How do we live so the next generation enjoys all of the freedom and promises of our nation?
My guess is if all those who were involved in World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan could say anything to those of us celebrating our country’s freedom this July, they would say the same thing:
“Remember. Don’t forget the sacrifice that was made for you. Don’t neglect the sacrifice that may one day be required of you.”
Even in the confusion and frustration of the pandemic, few of us will ever come close to making any kind of sacrifice like those that have been made for us. While we’ve had to work from home, educate our children from home, and shop from home, we’ve not had to take a beachhead under withering machine-gun fire, walk through a jungle looking for an enemy that’s almost impossible to see or walk through a village where you don’t know who’s friend or foe.
Even a casual glance at our country’s history will tell the stories of people like Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks, Paul Revere and Nathan Hale, John Leland and Roger Williams — men and women, soldiers and citizens, who faced a moment when freedom would demand the ultimate price.
And they were willing to pay it.
We should be too. No, not many of us will be asked to charge an enemy position, but we can run for the school board or city council. We can run for state offices and volunteer for local boards. Yes, it’s time-consuming and extremely frustrating, but that’s what freedom costs. Democracy is messy, and to work effectively, everyone has to be involved.
The last thing our country needs is another senior adult Sunday School class spending Bible study time talking about how bad the country is now.
Do something. Get engaged.
Read up on issues and engage in the debate. Speak the truth — in love! — and raise the level of compassion, justice, and righteousness in our communities.
And we can do this because, of all people, followers of Christ are the freest people of all. Think about it. Our identity is fixed in Christ. We are fully loved in Christ. We are content in Christ. Because of this, we are free to serve our neighbors and communities without an agenda. We can do what is good and right and best for our neighborhood without concern for accolades or power — because all we desire is the pleasure and glory of Christ.
This isn’t as crazy as you think. Joseph was a government official and saved two nations because of his obedience and faithfulness to God. Daniel was a respected officer of the Babylonian court. Dag Hammarskjold, Secretary-General of the United Nations, was a committed and thoughtful Christian.
God has endowed governments with the power to rule over communities and countries. Serving in government is a God-ordained work. More of us need to be open to being involved with governments at all levels.
Being involved, interested, and passionate citizens is one way we can earn it. We may never have to be brave on the battlefield, but we may have to negotiate teachers’ salaries and construction costs for a new library.
Each of us, in our own way, leads our nation towards its original dream of being one nation under God, with liberty and justice for all.
