I leaned my head over to one side and spit on the dried leaves in front of me. Frowning thoughtfully, I took a deep breath, and in the gruffest, most masculine voice I could generate, said to my cousin, Billy, “Well… Waddaya think, Joe? Can we take out that machine gun nest?”

Heroes in the Making~
We were lying on our bellies behind a fallen tree near the bank of what we referred to as “the Big Gully” deep depression that ran through the woods on our grandparents’ farm. Unknown to the world, multitudes of imaginary life-or-death conflicts took place along the banks of that gully, and incredible acts of heroism were commonplace. On this occasion, a bunch of evil “Nazis” had ambushed our patrol, and the action was about to heat up.

“I dunno, Sarge,” Billy whispered. “But if you can throw some lead up there and cover me, I’ll try to circle around and get him from behind.” “Awright,” I grunted out in response. “You sneak around that way, and when you throw your grenade (a fist-sized rock), yell real loud, and I’ll come runnin’ up from here and take care of anybody left.” As “Joe” crawled off to my left with grenade in hand, the annals of Big Gully combat gallantry were about to record a new entry.

No Digital Graphics ~
There were no colorful video graphics, electronic hookups, awkward headgear, or heart-pounding musical accompaniments with the games we played in those days. We may have been a bit short on computer-generated special effects, but our games never needed recharging, always got us off the sofa, and demanded more physical movement than wiggling our wrists and thumbs. But as often as possible, we did try to enhance our imagination with whatever props or material accessories we could get our hands on. 

In this particular case, imagination was boosted to a whole new level with some real Army gear. We had “borrowed” a couple of my uncle’s WWII Army hats and a military surplus bayonet. The bayonet was hanging to my knees, and the hat was so big, it would likely have fallen down over my eyes if it hadn’t been held up by my larger than average ears. My uncle said that looking at me from behind reminded him of the rear end of a 1948 Ford coupe with both doors open, whatever that meant. But that didn’t matter because in our minds and hearts, Billy and I were fearless, intrepid, war-fighters engaged in saving the world from evil Nazis, whatever they were. 

In those days, almost without exception, soldiers were viewed with honor and respect. Their victories were enshrined, their exploits made legendary, and their courageous exploits reenacted on stage and screen. Most of us kids wanted to grow up to be one. But of course, we were sheltered in those early years from the harsh realities that real soldiers faced and knew nothing of the tears that stained the pillows of their families back home. In the battles we fought along the banks of the Big Gully, the good guys always won, the enemies were always vanquished, and the only blood ever shed was from an occasional skinned knee. 

A Spiritual Perspective ~
Playing “soldier” was fun, and though it failed to reflect the kinds of things brave men and women in uniform really face on our behalf, it helped to lay some foundational groundwork for the future. Children invent their games and construct imaginary battles because real warfare exists, and real enemies populate the grownup world. What we see in the physical realm has deeper, more profound implications in the spiritual realm – and that brings us to our point.

When Jesus Christ calls us to come to Him, it isn’t an invitation to join some kind of religious social club, as it all too often appears. There’s a real enemy at work in the world whose intention is to inflict death and eternal suffering to every one of us. His destructive power is real, and the war against him and his influence is real. The consequences of losing are huge, and Jesus offers protection and security that cannot be obtained without Him, but there’s more . . . All those who come to Him are also automatically enlisted and equipped for “active duty” in the one only opposing force against evil that exists.

Significant Similarities ~
As we honor those courageous men and women who committed their lives to defending the freedoms we cherish and the nation we love, let’s not forget those who are also veterans of another kind of army, and who fight a different kind of enemy in a different theater of battle. They are soldiers, too. We don’t sing “Onward Christian Soldiers” much anymore – but maybe we should. Multitudes of Jesus’ followers have made the ultimate sacrifice as well. Paul echoed the implications of their commission:

You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 2 Timothy 2:4 (NKJV)

And he established the expectation of their role like this:

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:11-12 (NKJV)

Real Soldiers Make Real Sacrifices ~
When the soldiers we honor this Memorial Day enlisted, they had to say goodbye to their families and the lifestyle they had known. They submitted to a different authority and swore allegiance to the homeland they were willing to die to defend and preserve. Recruits had to change their wardrobe and wear garments that identified them as soldiers. They were subjected to rigorous training in order to strengthen them and prepare them for the battles that would come. Servicemen and women were assigned specific duties and tasks and held accountable for their performance in a structured system that ensured a coordinated effort on the battlefield.

Running through the woods with toy guns and throwing rocks at imaginary enemies may be fine for children, but if we saw real soldiers entrusted with our welfare acting like that, we’d be really concerned. In the service that Jesus calls us to, there’s no place for pretending. When the enemy is real and the battles are painful, the joy in the victory is always worth the fight. 

Maybe as we celebrate this Memorial Day and seek to honor those who risk their lives to protect ours, another chorus of “Onward Christian Soldiers” wouldn’t be a bad idea to include, as well. In light of Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf and the calling He extends to us, expecting serious commitment to Him in return sounds reasonable doesn’t it? 

Honoring Our Veterans
Having Engaged in Protecting both Homeland and Spiritual Battles

~ M E M O R I A L   D A Y   2 0 2 5 ~

“TWEETABLES” ~ Click to tweet and share from the pull quotes below.  Each one links directly back to this article through Twitter . . .

• • There’s a real enemy at work in the world whose intention is to inflict death and eternal suffering to every one of us. His destructive power is real, and the war against him and his influence is real. The consequences of losing are huge. @GallaghersPen (Click here to Tweet)  
  • As we honor courageous men & women who committed their lives 2 defending the nation & freedoms we love, let’s not forget the veterans, soldiers of another kind of army, who fight a ‘different’ kind of enemy in a different theater of battle. @GallaghersPen (Click here to Tweet)   
  • Running through the woods with toy guns and throwing rocks at imaginary enemies may be fine for children, but if we saw real soldiers entrusted with our welfare acting like that, we’d be really concerned. @GallaghersPen (Click here to Tweet)
  • If real soldiers entrusted with our welfare acted like children playing ‘soldier’, we’d be concerned. In light of Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf and the calling He extends to us, expecting serious commitment to Him in return sounds reasonable. @GallaghersPen (Click here to Tweet)

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