Today’s quote comes from Tolstoy’s War and Peace. The grabber section points to June 6th, the anniversary of the Normandy invasion.
Sometimes I wonder what the spirits and ghosts of those young men who died on a beach in France eighty-two years ago would think if they could see us now.
For the last twenty-five years, it feels like we have been fighting a different kind of battle. Maybe it started on Wednesday September 12th, 2001. The day afterwards….
Somewhere along the line, too many Americans began seeing each other as enemies instead of neighbors. Some of us love America and some of us don’t.
Next month we celebrate 250 years since a collection of farmers, merchants, laborers, and dreamers told King George to go ‘F’ himself and pound some sand. Two hundred and fifty years of victories and defeats, prosperity and hardship, good decisions and bad ones.
Eighty-two years after D-Day, and I’m living in the Divorced Dad District.
I’m trying to raise three kids who will love each other, love life, love their faith, and love their country.
Eighty-two years later, I still worry about bills, but I have a solid job.
Eighty-two years and I’m in a heavily taxed state, but my neighborhood is safe and my neighbors are friendly.
Eighty-two years later and my church isn’t as crowded as it once was, and my parents aren’t sitting in the pew with me anymore, but the Gospel remains unchanged.
Eighty-two years later and we still have a country worth fighting for. A country that needs our support. A nation that needs appreciation.
None of us will be asked to jump from a landing craft while nazis fire machine guns from a bluff above us. Our duty is different. We honor those who fell by building something worthy of their sacrifice.
This morning I will buy gasoline that costs more than I want to pay. I will buy groceries that thin out my wallet a little more than I’d like.
On the other hand, I will make breakfast for people who love me.
Later, I will have a hot dog with people who love me.
Tonight I will break bread and give thanks with people who love me.
All because a bunch of kids stormed a beach on the other side of the ocean.
So go get the gusto and find some astonishment today, Chalkheads.
Show the spirits and ghosts of June 6th, 1944, how grateful you are for the opportunity of June 6th, 2026.
Live a life worthy of the gift they left behind.
