By Sister Mary Scholastica, O.C.D.
If you look at the ocean, it’s this wide expansive space that stretches beyond the horizon. And on a windy day, you can see the white caps gleaming off the crests of each mini wave, creating a beautiful pattern of white and blue and sparkles of light as far as the eye can see. This imagery beautifully captures the story of human life in the context of all of history. You can see the crests rise and fall. It’s quick. It passes. It has its moment of beauty, its moment to shine and then its engulfed into the larger context of the ocean. It is a part of it.
Each crest reflects an individual life. Each life lived in context of the vastness of the ocean of life. And specifically, today, as we pause to remember, it is a snapshot of what Veterans Day means for us as we look at the entirety of our history. It is collectively the many white crests gracing the surface of the ocean, reflective of the stories of hundreds of thousands of individuals who lived and died so that we could experience the blessings and freedoms we enjoy today. It is impossible to know each of them by name, but somehow, each life holds weight and significance, deep meaning in the context of the ocean of history.
Veterans Day may feel like any other calendar day, a day we have off from work and school. But it is so much more than that. It is a day that should impel us to want to do our part so that when our mini wave is cresting, it is adding to the beauty of the entire landscape. We are remembering that every white crest is somehow a part of the story of life, thus a part of our story. We tend to forget the many moments that make up our life, our history, our communal history. On this day, we should never forget that the beauty we see before us has richness and depth hidden underneath. We should never forget those who freely gave up their lives in service of God, country and family. We should never forget the children who grew up, not knowing a parent. We should never forget those who suffered such severe wounds from war, both internal and external, that when they returned home, their lives and the lives of their families were never the same. How can we forget that level of sacrifice? If we are to remain true to all that is good and beautiful in life, we must remember in our thoughts, hearts, and in our prayers, all those who gave all.
Next time you see the white crests spotting the ocean, pause to remember. You can’t track each crest dotting the waters. It’s impossible. But every crest with its moment to shine contributed to the immense beauty of what your eyes see. That little crest, as quick and passing as it was, is filled with many moments of joy, suffering, sacrifice, struggle, love and death. And may the beauty of the collective whole be a source of grace for you today so that you too can live a life worthy of the call you have received. God bless you and God bless America! And may their souls rest in eternal peace.
