A long time ago, when I was hanging out at a Graduate Christian Fellowship function, Dr. George Mavrodes, a professor of philosophy at the University of Michigan, related a story to me of a colleague who was working on his doctorate in sociology back in the early 1950's. The man went to live with the Amish for a year as a part of his doctoral work. He was with them during the 1951 presidential campaign between Adlai Stevenson and Dwight Eisnehower, and he was surprised to discover that the Amish men were all following the election very carefully and whenever they gathered discussed it. He was more surprised to discover that they to a man all were praying that General Eisenhower would win the election.
In the middle of one of these discussions, he asked about it. They explained that Stevenson was not qualified to be president because he was divorced, and a man of that questionable character should never be in power. Secondly, they said, "And General Eisenhower is a powerful general who will protect us and allow us to live the way we are called to live."
The doctoral student pressed further in trying to understand. The Amish went onto explain that God gives different callings to different people. Some he calls to be shoe makers. Some he calls to be peacemakers and some he calls to be warriors.
While my purist Annabaptist sisters and brothers disagree, I've had twenty five years to ponder Mavrode's story and it's ramifications. I am called to make peace. And I am incredibly grateful for those who are called to protect my family and my ideals.
I come from a family of warriors. My Grandfather, Neville Grant was a radio man in the Scots Guards who were part of what Kaiser Wilhelm called, "The King's Contemptible Little Army," and was on the front lines of the Great War from it's opening bell in 1914 to its closing four years later. He was one of the few that survived the whole bloody ordeal. Most of his friends did not. My Father tried to join the Royal Army in 1941 to fight Hitler, was turned down and so joined the Royal Airforce where he started as a bomb fitter -- placing bombs on the planes that went to pound Germany into submission. Later, he was reassigned and traveled the height and breadth of the Indian subcontinent goign to the front lines to entertain the troops that were fighting the Japanese horde. My Uncles served. My Uncle John wa a career officer and retired a Colonel in the late 70's He fought in WW2, Korea, and Vietnam, and then tried to get back in for Dessert Storm but they deemed him to be too old. I live as a warrior for peace. My weapon is my arms held high in surrender and love. People call me crazy, but with love as my only weapon, I fight on.
And so on this weekend when we honor those who put their physical lives on the line so we can live in peace, thanks. This peacemaker is grateful for your courage, bravery and faithfulness to your calling. No matter the conflicts that rage around you, may you know peace this day. To the families of those who have lost sons, daughters, husbands, fathers and mothers being faithful to the call they received to pick up a weapon to proect us; may you receive solace this day, and find peace in the pain and grief. I remember and mourn with you.
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