A friend sent me this touching story.
http://www.guideposts.com/story/matthews-korean-war-hero
I remember on a visit to Washington DC, visiting the Korean War Memorial and seeing the words etched onto the wall there: “OUR NATION HONORS HER SONS AND DAUGHTERS WHO ANSWERED THE CALL TO DEFEND A COUNTRY THEY NEVER KNEW AND A PEOPLE THEY NEVER MET”
The reason that I am in America, having met Jesus here, and serving as a pastor and NOT in North Korea, serving as who-knows-what, is that Matthew’s grandfather (see the story), and his friends answered the call of duty all those years ago, about a decade before I was born.
On that same trip to DC, a bunch of us met some veterans. There was an old guy, in full decorated uniform. It turned out that he had served in Korea. Susanna, wife of Jonathan, pastor of our Gracepoint-Davis church, brought her son Taylor to thank him, saying: “Taylor, if it were not for men like him, you would not be here.” The old guy got emotional, and had to turn around to compose himself. My guess is that this was not something he had encountered before: a Korean family thanking him for serving in the Korean War.
As Christians, historical facts are very important to us. “What do these stones mean?” was the question that the first memorial to God’s grand work was supposed to elicit. The fact that Jesus died for my sins, the fact that the early believers braved peril and mockery to hold onto their faith and establish the church, the fact that some well-educated Brits and Americans renounced fame and fortune to come to a little hermit kingdom called Korea a century ago for the sake of the gospel … all of these facts matter to me. When we express gratitude, we touch time and send ripples down through the past to all those people, and allow their lives to have power today.
I think it’d be a great idea for the many Korean churches in the land to find the closest set of Korean War vets, and take care of them. Doing so would be right in line with the Christian ethic of honoring history, and being thankful.
Last year, our youth had a chance to visit with bunch of Korean vets at a Veterans Home near by and had one of these touching times as we got to hear their stories of courage and sacrifice
That was tough to read without tearing up. Thank you for posting this.
Thank you for sharing Pastor Ed. Wow…it is indeed so true that if it weren’t for those Sons and Daughters of America who sacrificed their lives during the Korean war, most of us in America wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t be here. Very sobering thought.
Thanks for sharing that article, Pastor Ed. I think your idea is a wonderful one. To lose touch with events of the past that have very much to do with your life, is to miss out on a piece of yourself…sure, you can talk about Communism and containment and debate altruism v/s imperialism all you want, but at the end of the day men younger than I am went out to Korea and gave their lives, without which my family would not be here.
Thank you for this post Pastor Ed. I visited Washington DC this past weekend, and when I saw this etching on the memorial, along with the quote that said “Freedom is not free”, I was very moved and filled with immense gratitude over all the sacrifices that were made even before I was born. I’m a direct recipient and beneficiary of all these brave US soldiers who fought for a people that they had no connection with, so that I could enjoy the abundant life that I have now. When I visited Arlington Cemetary, I was inspired by people like William Windrich, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his valiant service in the Korean War, who had a grenade wounds through his helmet and yet refused medical attention or evacuation, so that he could lead his men in battle. I’m here today because of men like him, and such heroes are reminders that I need to always be filled with gratitude for the sacrifices of those who went before me.
It is so moving; I too would not be here if not for people like Matthew’s grandfather, yet I so easily forget. It reminds me to honor the cost for my life, and to steward my freedom well.
hello pastor ed… this is won kwak in bergen county, nj (diane shin’s husband).
hope you are well. just read about the austin plant you guys sent out–great stuff! i recall bumping into manny when he visited covenant life church (josh harris) down in gaithersburg, md. it was a pleasant surprise.
we are in the midst of planting in fort lee, nj. please pray for us as we covet the prayers of many.
please give kelly our best.
gratitude & grace,
won kwak
Thank you Pastor Ed for this sharing. When my family visited in DC, I translated the same quote engraved on the road(? floor? street?) my parents teared up and felt really grateful, and they told my brother and me how we needed to be always thankful for those who willingly came and died for Korea. At that time, I was only moved by my parents’ sensitivity, but did not really feel the appreciation towards the American soldiers. I take a lot of the blessings in my life granted. After listening to your sermon today, I revisit this post to remember the past and I am thankful for the American soldiers as well as American missionaries who came to Korea to share the gospel. Seriously, without them, I would not have been here, and that is not something I can take it for granted. Thank you for reminding us to be thankful!