| May
28,2006 Memorial Day | Church of the Covenant
The Rev. Dr. Robert J. Campbell, D. Min., D.D. Printer-Friendly Version |
Carved
in Stone
Acts 17:22-31
Luke 19:37-40
Woe to those who put their trust in horses and chariots, but do not look to the Holy One.
Jesus said it about those who would follow him when officialdom told them to keep quiet, “I tell you if they are silent the very stones will cry out.” Later he added, “Would that you knew the things that make for peace.”
The year must have been 1948 or 49; I can still remember, (Yes, I’m that ancient.) and I can still remember the red, white and blue banners, the bugle piercing the mourning air as dawn slowly burned its way through the foggy mist that shrouded the cool green slopes unveiling the granite shapes of men with muskets, horses with charging hooves, and crosses; so many crosses for a child to run and play between as they dotted the rolling landscape.
I was a warrior’s son of four or five, yet, my first encounter with war was its remembrance as a “peace light” was first ignited on the battlefields of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; a monument dedicated to end war throughout the world.
Later that afternoon, in the heat of the Memorial Day sun, the words first fell upon my ears that have stayed with me ever since. A tall man with a tall hat, long coat and funny beard let simple phrases roll from his lips with an actor’s presence that I thought for all the world, was the character he was portraying.
“Four score and seven years ago a new nation now we [meet] here on a great battle-field. We have come to dedicate a portion of that [battle-] field... for those who gave their lives. ...But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate-- we can not consecrate-- we can not hollow-- this ground... [for those who have died] have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. [So] it is for us, the living to be dedicated here to the unfinished work ...the great task...that from these honored dead we take [great] devotion that we here resolve that [they] shall not have died in vain.”
There was more, It was the re-enactment of a speech given so many years before to the union cause of freedom. But it was meant to be more because on those fields of battle lay children of North and South, differences put to rest beneath the grass. It was more than a political speech because, as I later came to appreciate, the speaker was more than a political leader, more than a president, he was a preacher, a theologian, a framer of God’s words and visions.
The New York Herald writer of the time remarked at the close of that November day in 1863: “The air, the trees, the graves are silent, even the relic hunters have gone home and the soldiers never wake to the sound of reveille.”
The New York Times, in somewhat more critical fashion said, “As Mr. Lincoln put it, ‘It is not what was said here, but what was done here that deserved attention.’” The question being, what was done that deserved attention both that day and the one I remember? What deserves remembering this day? Battles fought, the honoring of the dead, -- is that what deserves remembrance? Or was it, is it, the dedication to another, better way?
Those thoughts came to mind years later as I watched my own son’s run over the same fields as they played amidst the alters of granite. It was perhaps then the question formed in my mind, is there any resolve left that humankind will study war no more? When will we recognize the things that make for peace?
I recalled then, as I remember now, the haunting words of Harry Emerson Fosdick from his sermon dedicated to the unknown soldier of yet another war. “It was,” he said, “An interesting idea to deposit the body of an unrecognized soldier in a memorial of a great war.” But then he paused to ponder a question that might come from that soldier’s lips, “Where is this great new era that this war was to create?” “Sometimes I do not want to believe in immortality,” said Fosdick. “Sometimes I hope the unknown soldier will never know.” Fosdick had an account to settle with that soldier whose remains were encased in the finest granite with tribute carved to his honor. Fosdick had supported one war to end all wars and now a second one and how many more?
A friend from another church recently sent me a postcard from Coventry Cathedral in England, still another monument to peace rising like a phoenix from the ashes of destruction. So may images come to mind as we place flags upon the graves on this, a remembering, a memorializing weekend. But a remembering of what and for what? That is the eternal question!
“If my followers are silent the very stones will cry out!” Is it that the churches of this land are too long silent that there are so many stones scattered in national cemeteries whispering, “When Lord, will you give us peace in our time?” True the enemies are different now. True 9/11 changed the face of the world forever. But is it not also true that fear and fundamentalisms are spreading across the world in all their forms because people of faith with integrity and character are silent?
After that terror filled day in September, America had the world’s good-will but we squandered it in self-riotousness. Instead of expanding our potential to make good of that which was evil by widening our hearts toward so many others in the world who are unfairly brutalized, we closed in on ourselves and “the most powerful nation in the world became the victim of victim hood” (1) became the victim of its our own fears.
“Woe to those who rely on horses and chariots and soldiers because they are strong.” Woe to those who rely on stealth bombers and Bradley ground machines, Blackhawk helicopters and M-16 rifles, intelligence czars and homeland security to make them feel safe as they sing praises to God, but ignore the ways of the Holy One.
Woe to those who ignore the fact that if the poor of the world were fed, and if the wealthy nations of the world spent half of their military budgets on peace there would be no fertile ground for fanatics to plant their seeds. Let us not forget that it was the devil who tempted Jesus with unbounded wealth and power. And it is the devil in every nation that makes them seek security of their own making. How can we Christians say, “Forgive us our debts” and not do something about starvation among our relatives in God’s family?
Paul, in the account of the Apostles, standing amidst another prosperous people, could tell that they were religious by their monuments to an unknown God. He says; “Your God is no longer unknown.” The Lord has formed a new world empire crossing all human boundaries. "You people feel after that God" says Paul, “But you don’t have to look very far, because it is in that God we live and move and have our very being.” The times of ignorance when monuments were needed are gone. You don’t have to have granite to remind you of the heroes of some “great war;” as if any war was great.
“If my followers are silent the very stones will cry out.” I buried a lot of inner city youngsters in the late 60's. They weren’t like John Wayne, coming home to a heroes welcome. If they survived a 12-month nightmare they were put on a plane, sent home, told to wash up for dinner as if nothing had happened to them. Yet for most, there lives would never be the same. As one said to me, “The lucky ones in my platoon are the dead ones.”
Another piece of granite was eventually fashioned to honor them. Some called it “a gash in the earth.” It took me a long time to visit it. As you walk down to its depth the sounds of the city grow quiet as a grave. Then you see the names; nothing but names, our most precious possession, no rank, no slogan just names.
Taps played that day when I finally made my pilgrimage and there I saw reflected in the black granite, as if coming out of those names, a face. My own. And I thought, as I touched the name of one I knew, “How many more?”
I must tell you I don’t know quite what I will say if I should have to ponder with yet another family the life of one of their children sacrificed by those who have christened death again while residing safe within the belt ways of the Potomac. I pray I never am called upon to do so again. But someone will have to bury a child they have baptized, because we still put our trust in gods other than the Holy One and we still worship the idols of war. How many monuments do you see erected in honor of people who make for peace?
It is Memorial Day. A time for remembering and maybe today it can be the beginning of a time of change. But it can only be such a time if we who follow the “Prince of Peace” quit feeling around and steal ourselves with the resolve to study war no more!
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