A Life Worth Memorializing: Living Courageously

Why do we memorialize people and events? It’s the day after Memorial Day and we, as the United States of America have dedicated a day to remembering all of those who have given their lives to protect the freedoms of which we are the beneficiaries. But why is it necessary?

I spent quite a bit of time driving back to Chicago yesterday and drove through quite a number of small towns. Most of them had a park or plaza with a monument dedicated to something, a statue or bust of someone. There were lots of cemeteries with American flags, headstones and mausoleums; buildings and public places were named after people, but why?

My thought is that we want to honor those who have left a positive legacy and we never want to forget those who have left a negative one. We are surrounded by reminders of the people who have gone before us because quite frankly, humankind has a very short memory.

Throughout history we have repeated cycles of atrocities because we didn't learn from the past. We forgot what we were supposed to do to break these cycles of destruction and we forgot the people who inspired us to be better as well as those who demonstrated the depths of human depravity.

We are surrounded by reminders of where we've been, where we want to go and who we want to be. A tour through any nation’s capital is filled with reminders of that nation’s history, just as digging through an attic or basement in most of our homes would be.

My grandfather recently died and while helping my grandmother move out of their home I was amazed at the things that she put the highest value on at her yard sale. They weren't the things that actually had the highest value, they were the things that SHE valued the most; the things that had high sentimental value because I’m sure she really didn't want to see them go.

We cling to things because we never want to forget. God understood this. That’s why he allowed the Israelites to go through the wilderness for 40 years. He never wanted his people to forget His faithfulness. Jesus also understood this. He told his disciples to break bread and drink wine in remembrance of Him; for his sacrifice for them and for all humanity. 

We have to be intentional if we are going to remember the past; to learn from those who have gone before us and to honor them and what they taught us about living courageously. It is certainly my life’s ambition to live a life that inspires this and future generations and I hope that it is yours as well.