It was a very patriotic day for me. A good friend was being honored for his decades of work helping and honoring veterans. We sang a couple of songs....and held small American flags....holding them high at times. It was just a pleasure seeing this good man honored....as the tears rolled down his cheeks.
Then my wife and I went to an afternoon movie....A Christian movie. We try to see most of them that are released....and they are always enjoyable....often with tears flowing....and the audiences are dream audiences....just people who want to see some kind of encouraging Christian message. I always feel at home and comfortable with these people.
Today was no different. The title of the movie doesn't matter. You could probably figure it out for yourself if you really wanted to know the movie. There was something that happened towards the end of the film. In the scene....in an arena....our national anthem began to play. I had the advantage in that our town bells often play the national anthem in amongst other patriotic contributions. I'm not a fan of that....for it places the Star-Spangled Banner in with other music....therefore taking away its special meaning. This has been years running...and on the busy street when the national anthem plays....I stand at attention and face the nearest flag. It's awkward....for just about everyone is too busy heading to the car or heading to the bakery to realize what is playing.
So this was not new to me....and when the anthem started to play....I lowered the foot rest....and stood up in the front row of the audience.....spilling my bag of popcorn. I didn't think anything of it but when the film ended people came up to my right and my left just to thank me. I would have liked to tell them that the situation was not new to me....but the opportunity did not present itself.
I would not have thought to do a post on what happened in the theater....except for this....which almost forces me to do this post. Most if not all of the people who are strong supporters of President Trump....hold to these same patriotic thoughts about the national anthem. Probably everyone who came up to me is one of these folks. I love them. We share so much of the same concerns for our country....and I have been one of them for at least forty-five years now. I do not like this division. I do not like not being able to discuss these things in friendship.
President Trump was at West Point today. Most of these folks would probably differ with me as to President Trump's appearance at events like this. That went through my mind this afternoon.
I'm....pretty sure....that my friend who was being honored today....is a MAGA person.....but I really do not know because he has been honoring veterans for twenty-three years....that I know of! It's the veterans that he loves. I know that.
Tomorrow is yet another Lord's Day....and it is Jesus that we love....and His gospel that we defend! Everything else....country....even family....takes a place behind that. May God have mercy upon us. May the Holy Spirit this very night move upon and within the pastors sleeping in their beds. May we in the pews realize more than we ever have in our entire Christian lives....that are standing before a Holy God!
