ON REMEMBERING HEROES IN HISTORY
Heb.11:38..."of whom the world was not worthy."
Ps.88:12 "Shall Your wonders be known in the dark?
And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?"
And reverent men & women from afar, & generations that know us not, & that we know not of,
heart drawn to see where & by whom great things were suffered & done for them,
shall come to this deathless field, to ponder & dream; & lo! The shadow of a mighty presence shall wrap them in its bosom, & the power of the vision pass into their souls!...
This is the great reward of service. To live, far out & on, in the life of others.
This is the mystery of the Christ-to give life's best for such high stake
that it shall be found again unto life eternal."
-Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain-1889 Gettysburg reflection
Heb.11:38..."of whom the world was not worthy."
Ps.88:12 "Shall Your wonders be known in the dark?
And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?"
The Bible is full of stories of real faith & real life. It places a heavy emphasis on historical awareness-remembering the ways & wonders of God while rehearsing the life journeys of men & women. English author John H.Y.Briggs said,"historical awareness is essential for the health & well being of any society...it enables us to know who we are, why we're here & what we should do." I believe we desperately need to hear again of heroic lives & historical perspectives that may serve to free us from the arrogance & amnesia that marks our day. "History must be our deliverer, not only from the undue influence of other times, but from the undue influence of our own...from the tyranny of the environment, & the pressures of the air we breathe"-Lord Acton.
We are all created to feed on "good news," & called to communicate the "word of our testimony." We should never forget that the full record of God's history is in our possession-it is HIS-story. It is our inheritance, & we are to be guardians & heralds of it. Every Biblical retelling & rehearing inspires faith; & every life story (testimony) increases expectation while inviting us to intimacy with the Living GOD.
I am (here) committed to remembering & retelling the stories of heroes of faith who have stood out with remarkable peculiarity.
"In great deeds something abides. On great fields something stays. Forms change & pass, bodies disappear, but spirits linger--to consecrate ground for the vision-place of souls.We are all created to feed on "good news," & called to communicate the "word of our testimony." We should never forget that the full record of God's history is in our possession-it is HIS-story. It is our inheritance, & we are to be guardians & heralds of it. Every Biblical retelling & rehearing inspires faith; & every life story (testimony) increases expectation while inviting us to intimacy with the Living GOD.
I am (here) committed to remembering & retelling the stories of heroes of faith who have stood out with remarkable peculiarity.
And reverent men & women from afar, & generations that know us not, & that we know not of,
heart drawn to see where & by whom great things were suffered & done for them,
shall come to this deathless field, to ponder & dream; & lo! The shadow of a mighty presence shall wrap them in its bosom, & the power of the vision pass into their souls!...
This is the great reward of service. To live, far out & on, in the life of others.
This is the mystery of the Christ-to give life's best for such high stake
that it shall be found again unto life eternal."
-Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain-1889 Gettysburg reflection
May we all "remember the years of the right hand of the Most High...retelling for generations to come the praises of the Lord, His strength & wonderful works that HE has done"-Ps.77:1o, 78:4.
