Day one-hundred-forty-six

Memorial Day is winding down now. It's 8:20 pm as I write this, and it's funny to think that normally, I would be at work at this time. It seems like three days is long enough for a long weekend. Two days seem too short, and four days seem too long, at least to me.

We barbecued again today. More carne asada and potato salad. Our cousins came over for lunch; for once, we barbecued early this year.

…

I've been thinking about how many people I know are or were in the military at some point. Between family and church, I've known people who are or were in the Navy and Marines. As I speak, two of my cousins are currently in the Navy, one of whom spent time on a submarine.

Dad was in the Navy in the seventies, part of the Seabees. He spent time in the Aleutian Islands, Okinawa, Puerto Rico, Diego Garcia in the center of the Indian Ocean, and Port Hueneme.

He once said that when he was on the island of Adak (in the Aleutians), it was sunny only two days out the whole year he spent up there. Both times, they gave everyone the day off.

I never gave much thought to joining the military. Certainly, my dad never said we couldn't, if it seemed like that was where God was leading any of us. Of course, he never exactly encouraged us to pursue the military as an option, either. The only time I ever really gave it much thought was during a prolonged period of unemployment I had a few years ago. It never went beyond a mild consideration, and thankfully, other options came along. I never spoke to a recruiter, and honestly, I think that if I had, I might've allowed myself to be talked into joining when that would've certainly been a mistake.

God bless those who do serve, who have the strength of character or the kind of mindset or temperament that can succeed or even thrive under military discipline. It is one of the most demanding things a person can do, and it involves tremendous personal sacrifice.

Just writing this makes me begin to understand the use of the military as a symbol of the Christian life. Both demand discipline, devotion, brotherhood, and submission to a commander. Both involve taking up armor and preparing oneself for battle. Both seek the objective of victory in those battles.

May I be the soldier Christ equips me and strengthens me to be.