remember

November 11, 2004

today is remembrance day. it's a day to remember those who willingly gave their lives in exchange for our freedom. i've been reading a lot of articles in the toronto star about people's opinions on remembrance day. there was one that really struck me. the author wrote about how she went to a cemetery to visit a grave, and how beautiful it was. there was so much life there, and rightfully so. in fact, there was a squirrel there that would eat from your hand! meaning, that people went there frequent enough for the squirrel to build that relationship with humans.

as she was leaving, she noticed another part of the cemetery. it was dark. there was no life there, as if no one had ever visited there. she asked her friend about that. that section, was in fact, the section for our Canadian soldiers. forgotten and abandoned. that stirred something in my heart. how could we be so heartless?

i'm not advocating for us all to rise up and swell with canadian pride here. but what scares me the most, is that we treat our Lord & Saviour that same way. Christ's sacrifice for us bought us our freedom. we deserved death and punishment for our sins, but by the mercy and grace of our God, He sent His Son instead. our condemnation and bondage was exchanged for freedom. colossians 1:12-14 [NIV]. "for He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves."

such an unfathomable act should be remembered. it should be the thing we're talking about to everyone! but, like our soldiers' graves, it's forgotten. is that how we thank our God for His abounding love for us? is that how we repay Him? it breaks my heart to know that i am guilty of such an heinous act.

it's so sad to think we need days like communion sunday and Christmas to remember our Lord and His sacrifice, but that's how we are. we forget. if it's out of sight, it's out of mind. we only remember when it's dear to our hearts, when we cherish it. we need to move to a place where we are constantly awe-struck and floored by the amazing love of our wonderful God. and that, my friends, starts at the Cross. that starts when we remember.

Posted by Leo Chan at November 11, 2004 2:42 PM