Where oh where Wednesday - Margraten cemetery

Just up the road from Maastricht, about 15 minutes away, is a solemn place where history connects the US and Europe and solemn solitude tries to break through the raucous chaos of everyday to remind that there are some things more important than others. Here the fields are sown with white stones laid out in beautiful rows. 

Margraten cemetery is a monument to the US soldiers who died in World War II liberating the Netherlands. About 90 minutes to the south is where the Battle of the Bulge was fought and the fields turned red. Here outside Maastricht Us forces cam to liberate Maastricht, one of the first places in the Netherlands to be freed from the enemy. 

The soldiers buried here did not all die here. Some died further away and on various days. Walking among the stones, you can read their names and dates. You ca be amazed at the variety of men who fought for their country. There are crosses, stars of David and stones. There are young men and older men. As you stand among the white rows, lines stretching out softly over a hill toward the trees, you are aware of the sacrifice given. 

Presidents have come here to show their support for Europe. Every year on May 4 the fallen are remembered. Dutch families adopt the graves here so that the fallen soldier’s family know that all is well cared for, even now.  

When you walk here it is easy to remember that this was horrible. That we are glad that it is over. Then we drive on to the next city and life continues. War continues. Soldiers and citizens die once again. There is a peace that must come from somewhere else than a memorial, as important as such a memorial is. Every Sunday we remember - in a beautiful and solemn ceremony - how important it is that One died. But do I just walk away and continue? Or do I let it change my life, daily?

The second day of Christmas

In Belgium and the Netherlands (and many other places) we celebrate two days of Christmas. Both the 25th and the 26th are holidays (in the Netherlands the stores are closed, in both countries the banks are closed). But of course the ‘second day of Christmas’ gets me thinking in musical terms and I end up with two turtle doves. And that is what is so intriguing.

Turtle doves are symbolic for romantic love. You will see them in logo’s for weddings. We say things like, “Oh, look at the turtle doves.” And this time of year is a time of love. Shirley and I were married on the 21st. Stephan and Natalie on the 22nd. Although I imagine few get married on the 26th, this period is one of sharing and remembering the love we have for each other.

Two turtle doves were also the offer that Joseph and Mary brought to the temple when Jesus was born to redeem him as the first born male. They were faithful in worshipping God with their lives. So this is a time of family, of loving one another as we love God. The doves even show up in films like Home Alone 2, testifying to this element. We enjoy being together with heavenly-made family at this time as well as sharing via technology with family around the world. 

And God, who knows us all and wants all to be able to come to Him, was gracious in the sacrifices required of the Israelites. The doves were so that everyone, even those who were less well off, could offer and be in good standing with God. How ironic – or simply prophetic – that this simple offer is all that was required while it was Jesus who actually brought the ultimate offer and redeemed Joseph and Mary – and all of us. Those simple doves remind me of the beautiful, gracious love that Jesus Christ showed and shows to us all, even today.

So I really like the second day of Christmas. Don’t quite know what to make of all those leaping, milking folks later on, but those two turtle doves are quite a picture!

Enjoy this day, knowing that God loves you and wants you to be with Him, every day. He has done everything necessary to make this possible – now all that is needed is your (and my) willingness to accept Him.

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christʼs physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. Colossians 1:21-23

Time is money

I love that God places us in a family, a place where we can and should learn from one another in many different ways. Recently our young brother from Ghana who is studying in Aachen, Germany, had the sermon. He made a very clear point for us all to think about. It came from a passage that I had read many times before. That’s what I love so much about God’s word and His plan for His family. We continue learning.

When Joseph sold a piece of land and placed the profits at the feet of the apostles to be distributed among the needy in the church, he was showing the character that the Holy Spirit in him was creating – a character of encouragement. The apostles gave him the name Barnabas because of this (and other things – as we later come to see). And we all understand when we read this history that this is admirable and should be followed as an example in our lives.

But society at that time and in that area was largely agrarian. It was quite a sacrifice to sell a piece of land. And it made quite a difference to the people in the church. This is evident in the reaction of Ananias and Saphira. They wanted so much to emulate the action and get the same kind of praise that they were even willing to lie about what they were giving – even though they did not have to!

How many of us own land these days? There are still some. And of course there are people who are financially blessed and able to give money. But there is something we all possess that is actually quite valuable. Are we willing to share? Are we willing to sacrifice? We all know: “Time is money.” How much time am I willing to offer up for my brothers and sisters. I may not have anything to offer in financial help and what I could offer might not really help much at all. In fact, what I might offer could even bring problems for my brother or sister – because of the systems in our society.

But I have time. You have time. On what am I spending (or wasting) my time? Can I think about how my time – which is precious indeed – could be better used to help others? What a good challenge to consider. Yes – our possessions are also not our own and can and should be shared with those in need. But our time is also not our own and should be put to the best use: in our families, with our neighbors, with those in our communities, in the church.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.  Galatians 2:20