On June 28, 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was signed ending the "Great War" -- World War I. The treaty concluded the war that had ceased in the previous year on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. It was regarded as "the war to end all wars." So in November of 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11th to be Armistice Day that recognized the heroism of those who died serving the country and America's sympathy with peace and justice among nations. It didn't become a legal holiday until 1938, but in 1954 it was changed from Armistice Day to Veterans Day to include every soldier, sailor, airman, and Marine that served, from World War I through Korea.
Veterans Day is a good idea, but it's always problematic for Americans. When they think of "veterans" they tend to think of those who went into combat. Those are worthy of respect and honor, but they do not make up all that are classified as "veterans." Estimates are that some 15% of those in military service do so in combat. The vast majority of veterans served the mission in supply and logistics. And our first thought is often, "Oh, that's not what we're celebrating." That would be a mistake.
A veteran is defined as "a person who has had experience in a particular field." Of course, on November 11th we're talking about a person who has served in the military, but the concept carries on in the rest of life. Veterans are invaluable. Veterans know the ins and outs, the tricks and the pitfalls. Veterans have what is sometimes referred to as "tribal knowledge," the unwritten set of information gathered over time through experience that makes the task possible. The military, businesses, governments, communities, and even churches need these veterans.
Of course, veterans have fallen into dishonor in our culture. It used to be that experience was the best teacher and veterans, either in military or in life, had some of the most helpful experiences to help us face life. No more. Innovation is the new queen. Out with the old; in with the new. We see it in our entertainment, where kids are portrayed as the wisest beings on the planet. We see it in our production where "cool" is gaining ground over functional. (We recently had our dishwasher repaired after 15 years. The mechanic said, "We can replace the motor or we can replace the dishwasher -- about the same price. However, you won't find a dishwasher today that washes dishes as good as the one you have.")
Scripture takes a different view. Paul says that God comforts us in our affliction so that we can comfort others who experience the same affliction (2 Cor 1:3-6). Tribal knowledge. In the New Testament the primary biblical leadership of any local church is made up of "elders" (e.g., Titus 1:5; 1 Peter 5:1-3) and the word there is actually a reference to people who are older. Paul specifies that an elder can't be "spiritually younger" (1 Tim 3:6). Solomon wrote, "Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life" (Prov 16:31). Paul describes a structure where older women teach younger women (Titus 2:3-5). The aim is not innovation; it is maturity (Eph 4:11-14).
Scripture -- God's Word -- values children, but it also values adults -- especially older adults. Scripture values experience over innovation. Unfortunately we in the church these days are tending toward the world's approach of minimizing the veterans in favor of the youth. We don't much want to see them or hear them. We like them alright. I mean, they're typically contributing more money to the cause than the younger folk, but we're not too concerned about their opinions, views, preferences, feelings, or experiences. They aren't the preferred teachers or pastors. We honor military veterans, but we're not too keen on highly prizing the experience and maturity of our older members. The loss will be maturity and tribal knowledge, that accumulated learning and experience that shortens the same trip for the younger people if they can just learn from them. Refusing to learn from their history, we're just doomed to repeat it. A subtle but effective trick of the devil.
4 comments:
I'm one of those veterans who never deployed outside the USA. I entered service right out of hight school in 1970 not knowing that was the year they stopped sending people to Vietnam (although I was often treated as if I did by those who called me "baby killer" and spit at me when I was in uniform traveling). I came close to deploying to Israel during the Yom Kippur War of 1973; was on lockdown in the company area with all equipment drawn and parachutes in the truck in the company street waiting to take us to the air base to load up for an airborne invasion supporting the 82nd Airborne Division. We were locked down for just over a week, if I remember correctly.
But I give my honor to those who actually went to war, knowing they saw service that I never saw. I was recently invited to meet with several other veterans for a morning "coffee klutch" on Wednesdays. Only one saw combat, and he was a Marine Recon who saw some really tough stuff. There is one other Army paratrooper and he was stationed in Korea in the mid-1950s. One Marine was a technician on an EC-121 over Vietnam and a sailor was an electrician on an aircraft carrier which launched planes over Vietnam. The other sailor was a corpsman stationed in the Philippines during Vietnam while another Marine was a legal aid in California during the Korean War. A good friend of mine, who is a retired pastor, was in the Korea War on a seaplane tender but never saw combat.
So, you're correct; huge numbers of veterans never saw any action but we were ready to if we were called.
To Glenn and to Stan, David and all other military veterans. Thank you for your service. Stan, for you it was Desert Storm. All are needed as you say, support, supplies etc...all are essential
I was actually out 2 months before Desert Storm, but thanks. I did service some of the aircraft involved in the strike Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
hmmmm, I thought Desert Storm was going on when you were stationed at March. But your welcome anyway. Regardless :)
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