This past Sunday early in the service I asked those who had served in the military to stand. In our now long pacifist leaning denomination there weren’t all that many. Out of two hundred, forty or so, maybe thirty stood. Without my bidding the congregation applauded. For quite a while…
Later a note was passed to me from someone who objected to our celebration of the military. To be fair the writer wasn’t just annoyed with this, but also with how we name the war dead each Sunday.
The writer felt there were all sorts of dead who could be honored, and gave a list of various possible categories.
An interesting question. Although in some ways, avoiding the real question. While I have problems with the phrase “we’re at war.” An undeclared “war” against a movement, not a nation, raises serious problems. And not just semantically. Still, this is the fact: we are embroiled in a conflict, we, that is we Americans, among others, have troops on the ground in several places on this planet. People wearing the uniform of the American republic are fighting and dying.
What is the most appropriate way for those in a congregation that is mostly pacifist leaning to deal with our place as citizens of a nation that is caught up within a conflict?
Well, in general, I think we’re doing it right.
We are caught up in a web of relationships. People are dying in our name. And we don’t have the option of opting out. There is no escape. This is the field upon which we act.
Our spirituality is not disconnected from the flesh.
Just here.
Just this is the place we live, the place we find meaning, the place we find salve, healing. Or not.
And even if many of us are pacifist, the larger majority of us stand with uncomfortable ambiguity, reluctant to see us in wars, but who do believe in the right of self defense. Who long for a time when we see we are one world, and where armies are replaced with police. But, who also know, we are not there…
This is the world we live in. Not another…
So, we will continue to name those who die in our name on fields of combat.
And, we will honor those who step up and give service.
And, we will note from time to time that there are other ways to serve. I immediately think of the gift of time, and work, and sometimes of life itself, given by those who volunteer for the Peace Corps.
And, from this place, we will also question the purpose of any conflict, push, challenge.
And, when the conflict makes no sense, or the sense is that it is wrong, well, then we will object to the war, hopefully without turning from how we are caught up together.
All one.
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