What do these stones mean?

In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, "What do these stones mean?" tell them, "Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground." For the LORD your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us…He did this so you might always fear the LORD your God.
—Joshua 4:21-24

It is Memorial Day 2011. This is the weekend that marks summer’s beginning and, more importantly, when we as a nation are invited to remember the past as we consider the future; to remember the horror of war, to honor those who served at their county’s request and died in the defense of freedom.

It is a time to remember the lessons of the past, the values, the history, which hopefully will teach us so we can embrace a more confident and fulfilling future.

So what were you doing this weekend? Beach? Concert? Did you watch the Indy 500 or the Coca-Cola 600? Did you go on a picnic? I hope amidst all the entertaining and fun things that you took time to remember and reflect.

I do this by going to a graveyard or a war memorial and ask the question: "What do these stones mean?"


The stones that stand as silent witness to life and death, choices and history; Vietnam memorial, Korean memorial, WW1 and 2, Jefferson, Lincoln, Arlington. Go ask the stones what they mean and listen for the answer. Go to the cemetery near your home, look and listen to the stones.

Have you ever asked the question? More importantly have you ever heard the answer?

Perhaps it is precisely because we as a people prefer not to ask the question or remember or reflect that the Memorial Day holiday has become more race day than reflection day, more motor day than Memorial Day.

There is however more truth in this metaphor than we might like to admit. For just as the cars at Indy and the Coca-Cola 600 race at incredible speeds, upwards of 220 miles an hour, you and I race through life careening around the corners of decisions on a wing and a prayer. Making pit stops only when we need to refuel or to replace clogged arteries, or find help for worn out relationships.

You can be so enthralled with the race of life that you are strangely unaware that it only goes in circles. Only when it ends do you find out that your energy and focus was on the wrong thing.

The course of life is not about speed but faithfulness. It is not about taking risk as much as honor and duty. It is not about winning as much as serving…just like those we remember and honor this weekend.

What do these stones mean? They mean nothing unless they live in your heart and mine and we serve the cause of freedom every day in standing for justice, and mercy, in being kind and compassionate. Disarming those in pain, bringing hope to those who have no voice, bringing peace to those anxious about their future through acts and words of kindness and comfort.

What do these stones mean? They mean so much more when they live in our hearts and lives!

You are in the army now…the army of grace and healing. Go and serve with honor and distinction because people are counting on you!