Why Do We Have Days Like This?

"For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream," said Vincent Van Gogh.

Isn't it true for all of us...we walk around life in a hope and wish with a prayer. Very few times do we know anything with an absolute certainty. We want, we wish, we hope. We pray. We craft. We design. We wait.

We encounter good people along the way. We encounter people who change our lives or help shape it. We encounter good experiences. We endure ones that we wouldn't pick for ourselves even if we had all the courage in the world. We wouldn't say with a certainty, "I want to have hardship in my life because the world will be better if I do..." How many of us have ever said that?

It turns out, there are thousands and thousands who did. Over the course of our country's history, there have been thousands of souls who have heard the call to do hard things for the ease and comfort of those of us who live here.

Thousands upon thousands. You know them. You may even be one of them. In this household alone...I have a spirit like this who is presently serving. I am partnered with one who served; he is a brother to four others who served as well. When the moment arises, I can easily recall them for you.

But, do I remember them? Do I think daily about the gift they gave when they said, "Yes!" Do I remember the Human nerves that were required? The bravery that is commanded? The lives that ended in guarding the gift of freedom?

Like you, most days, the answer is...."No."

Because each day brings me small battles of my own. And triumphs. And losses. And Wins. And draws. Each day demands its share of me...and I move along bumped on the road with My hopes. My dreams. My prayers.

So, that's why we have days like this...days carved out of a life that is constantly reaching forward. Days when we take a moment to look back at all who have helped pave the road. We have a few days in a year that we mark "in memory" of those warriors, peaceful and otherwise, who brought us so far and we stop...we stop...we stop...our doing for remembering.

We join with their spirits momentarily in the flowing river of the cosmos...to remember their gift...to whisper from our hearts, "Thank you!" And, for me...to gather wool about who they were and what they saw and heard...and wonder...and hope for them that when their life ended, they were not afraid...not scared.

I prefer to remember them looking up in the night sky at the same stars I now see and thinking, "For my part I know nothing with a certainty, but the site of the stars makes me dream of a world of freedom and peace. And I am doing my part to see that it happens."

Here's wishing that this Memorial Day, the stars lead us all to the place of knowing and remembering. And, with absolute certainty, gratitude beyond easy expression.

Namaste' Till Next Time,
Holly aka Airman Frock's Step-Mom/Former Airman Frock's Wife