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May 31, 2005

Memorial Day

Yesterday was Memorial Day. I celebrated by cooking out on the grill for the family. After we finished eating Delphine and I sat out back and listened to the birds making music and melody and watched a ground hog forage for food and be attacked by a Mockingbird. In a quiet moment I reflected on the fact that Memorial Day is a time to remember those soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. I could not help but to think about my time during Basic Training. I became friends with some who went on to die in Vietnam. I was blessed and did not draw combat duty but served as a Data Analyst Specialist in Danag. The fact that it was discovered that I had flat feet kept me out of combat. So many people have said to me over the years, "God was with you." I have always recoiled at that because it seems to say God was not with those who died. So I continue to ask, "Why me, Lord?" But, no answer has come over the years. Even as I reflect now the only thing I can do is to realize that for God's own reason I was given the gift of flat feet that kept me out of harm's way. But, as to why I have no answer other than to live my life in gratitude, seek to be humble and live in a fashion that honors God's grace.

Posted by Bishop at May 31, 2005 01:22 PM

Comments

Dear Bishop - I've been asking the congregation to pose questions they've always had about the Bible, Christian life/discipline and so on for the summer season (these topics become sermons or newsletter articles). The question - why do bad things happen to good people - was very popular and it came in the preaching rotation at a time that intersected with my personal life. I preached that sermon the Sunday I returned from having a miscarriage. Several members had emailed me with the frustration that I had a miscarriage while many other children are born to abusive households perfectly healthy. Everyone seemed to be in one accord - why Pastor Amy and Pastor Kevin's baby?
And so I prepared for the sermon and found Rabbi Kushner's book "WHen bad things happen to good people" to be helpful but he stops at a point and I want to go further (that's the point of my email). RK seems to take a diestic view of creation to the area of randomness, that God made the world this way and chooses not to interfer because like a clock he made it, wound it and left it. Here's where I want to go further: What about Romans 8:18-23 - doesn't that imply that the "randomness" of life (my miscarriage and your friends not surviving of Vietnam) orginates from the entry of human sin? Human decision to disobey God effected all of the world and it's workings? What do you think?

Posted by: ayh [TypeKey Profile Page] at June 9, 2005 01:07 PM

Bishop Swanson,
Thank you so much for your comments. I enjoy reading them. You give me many things to think about and meditate on.
BonnieSue

Posted by: bonniesue [TypeKey Profile Page] at June 4, 2005 08:12 PM

Hello Bishop, we've never met but my wife is associate minister of West Hills Baptist in Knoxville. I read about your blog in the paper and gave it a read since Courtney and I keep blogs also. I work with Bob Overholt and he has told me of how he's enjoyed hearing you speak in the past. Anyhow, I just wanted to say "Hello" and that I affirm your choice to go public on the Internet with your thoughts in blog form. We both find it highly effective. And about the flat feet and Vietnam: it seems to me we're all just doing the best we can with the tools we've got. Bet you never knew flat feet were going to become a "tool" that would allow you to minister years down the road, eh? ~Stephen Willis

Posted by: StephenWillis [TypeKey Profile Page] at June 4, 2005 01:00 PM