Our Devotion

FROM THE PASTOR

William Willimon (a United Methodist Bishop, speaker and author) is the source of this profound story....

A minister friend of mine was traveling in the south of England when his car broke down. Fortunately, it happened in a little village with a garage so he could get his car repaired. While the mechanics worked on his car, he walked around the village to see what he could learn. As a minister, it was inevitable that he would make his way to the village church. It was an old church and he strolled through the adjacent cemetery. In the corner of the cemetery he noticed a brick wall. The wall enclosed a beautifully maintained rectangle, and he walked over for a closer look. In the enclosed area were fifty graves of young men, ages seventeen to twenty-five. The men were from New Zealand and had died in that village during World War I. Over against the brick wall was a granite marker with the inscription “We shall never forget in this village their sacrifice.”

Fifty graves. Why did those young men come so far to die in an English village in 1918? There was no explanation at all. The minister strolled around the village and came to the village museum. He walked in and met the curator who was a volunteer. He asked him to “tell me about the plot in the church cemetery with fifty graves of young soldiers from New Zealand. How did they die and why did they die?” The curator replied, “I really don’t know, but if you’ll give me a day or two I’ll see if I can find out.” The minister explained that he was having his car repaired and did not know how much longer he would be there, and he continued to wander around the village asking “Why did they die, and how did they die?” No one in the village really knew. He remembered the marker on the wall in the cemetery: “We shall never forget in this village your sacrifice.”

But they had forgotten. The village was living a lie.

In any life, we can so easily forget the sacrifices that have been made for us. As Summer comes, as different ministers come to lead our church in worship, as you have family and friends visiting you, as weekend distractions from recreation to yard work fill your schedule ... nonetheless, I enjoin you ... do not forget to nurture your faith and worship our God.

Do not forget that it is Written: “Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8).

Do not forget the Lord said, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this remembering me” (Luke 22:19).

Do not forget “the words of him who has the seven spirits of God....”, saying, “Remember then what you received and heard; obey it, and repent” (Revelation 3:3).

Do not forget the sacrifices made for you in Jesus Christ ... remember, and be thankful. And that you should find very refreshing!

I will see you all again in September!

Your pastor and friend,

John