Time Not to Forget

 Written and Shared by: Chaplain Chris Belfield
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One of the inevitable signs of getting older is forgetfulness. Well, at least that's my excuse and I am going to stick to it.  I readily admit that there are times that I need help remembering upcoming tasks and events. Years ago I developed the habit of putting down all the important events on a desk calendar so that I could refer to it as a memory jogger and also help with scheduling my time.  I reasoned that if it was not written down in the calendar, I was not responsible as I didn't know about it.  You can already imagine how well that flawed logic train worked.  Now. With the technological advances over the years, it is easy to add events and tasks to home computers, tablets, and even cell phones so that there should be no excuses. There are programmed reminders when these devices are turned on.
What could be easier?  Well, you have to take the time to enter the information first.  I am old school and find it much easier to write it down on the paper desk calendar.  I like the convenience (at least to me) of being able to flip through weeks and months at a time to see what I have done, am doing, and will be doing. There have been times, few thankfully, here I was supposed to do something or be somewhere and missed it. I checked the calendar and it was not there.  Turns out I forgot to write it down.
Before you ask – I will already state that I am not so old school that I still have and use a Rolodex.  I have made the leap to the 21st century and readily appreciate and embrace the use of the computer and phone to store all of my contact information.  The only deficit noted is when there is a severed internet connection, which happened recently.  Both the computer and home phone were disabled.  Thank goodness the cell phone still worked. What did people do 50 years ago before all of this advanced technology? Oh, that's right – I was there, and we somehow managed to do just fine.
That brings us to the present and this week in particular.  It is marked on my desk calendar that Monday is Memorial Day, so I don't have to write that down.  If there was any doubt about it, the TV and radio have been extolling the great bargains that can be realized during this holiday weekend.  Advertisements are telling us to have a happy Memorial Day.  Why? Memorial Day is not a national holiday.  It is a national day of remembrance.  It is to pause and reflect on the ultimate sacrifice that so many men and women in uniform made while serving to protect our country –you and me.  One of the regrets due to COVID-19, and there have been many, was the activities we could not do publicly. In 2019, the students at the Minnehaha Elementary School hosted a Veterans Day Program for the area's veterans.  It was one of the most moving and appreciated programs I have ever attended.  Among my fellow veterans and myself, there was hardly a dry eye when done.  These children were sincere in their appreciation and visibly showed it. As veterans, we will never forget their service to us.
Now it is Memorial Day weekend.  How will you visibly show your support for those who died in service to our country?  What will you be telling your children and grandchildren about this solemn day?  The local newspaper last week listed the different activities occurring around the county on Monday.  Do you have time to attend one?  On Friday morning, volunteers will be placing small American flags at the graves of veterans.  What a great way to pay respect.  We have plenty of flags and can always use the help.  This is a time not to forget what so many others have given to us through their sacrifice.  It seems little enough for us to take the time to honor them appropriately.  See you on Monday. Our encouragement verse for this week is:  John 15:13  (NIV)  “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”  May you be blessed by God's word.    
Chris