Welcome to Breakpoint, a daily look at an ever-changing culture through the lens of unchanging truth. For the Colson Center, I'm John Stone Street. 2 Samuel records a lament that was composed by David for Saul and Jonathan after they died in battle. How the mighty have fallen, he said. We share that same sentiment today, Memorial Day, as we remember the sacrifice of more than 1.3 million Americans who have lost their lives in war in order to keep us safe and free.
Years ago, Chuck Coulson expressed his own reflections on Memorial Day and all that it meant to him. Here's Chuck Colson. Memorial Day is when we honor the men and women of our armed services who have made the supreme sacrifice, who gave their lives for their country. Especially these days when Memorial Day seems to be nothing more than a time for cookouts and swim parties, we cannot be reminded often enough about how great a debt we owe our war dead. They give up their hopes and dreams, families and friends.
They submitted themselves to rigorous discipline, something I understand as a former Marine, 24 hours a day duty and placed their lives in great peril. Greater love has no one than this that he lays down his life for his friends. Their sacrifice ought to inspire in us a profound sense of gratitude, gratitude for the freedoms we enjoy, bought with a price, and that gratitude should compel us to live lives of service as well as serving Christ, our neighbor, and yes, our nation. I can't help but recall the brilliant film Saving Private Ryan. James Ryan, now in his seventies, has returned with his family to the military cemetery in Normandy.
He visits the grave of Captain John Nilla, the man who, half a century earlier, led the mission to retrieve and save Private Ryan. At the end of the mission, Miller was fatally wounded. As he lay dying, leaning against a tank, his final words to Ryan were, James Earn this. Earn it. We then see Ryan kneeling at Captain Miller's grave, marked by a cross.
Brian, his voice trembling with emotion, says, Every day I think about what you said to me that day on the bridge. I tried to live my life the best that I could. I hope that was enough. I hope that at least in your eyes, I've earned what all of you have done for me. Red-eyed, Ryan then turns to his wife and says, Tell me I've led a good life.
Tell me I'm a good man. With great dignity she says, You are. With that James Orion stands and salutes the grave of Captain Miller. I tell this story in greater detail in my book, The Good Life, which you can purchase at colsoncenta.org. You see, Private Ryan, out of gratitude for Captain Miller's sacrifice, did all in his power to live a good life.
And Memorial Day is a great time for each of us to look into the mirror, to examine our own lives. Are we living good lives in gratitude for all those who have sacrificed for us, including our men and women in the military, our families, our friends, and most of all, Christ? Are we like Ryan kneeling before the cross? Spielberg, a master cinematographer, had to realize the power of this imagery. Are we out of gratitude, doing our duty for Christ, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, ministering to those in prison, in whatever harvest field to which the Lord has called us?
Examine your life. And this Memorial Day, at the very least, thank those who have sacrificed for you and those you know who have served our country in the armed forces. Maybe you'll do what I do when you see a guy or gal in uniform in the airport or a store. I walk up to them and say, thank you for your service. That was Chuck Coulson, who founded the Breakpoint Commentaries, talking about Memorial Day and why it's important for Christians to embrace a posture of gratitude.
If you appreciate Breakpoint and the clarity that it brings in your daily life, could you leave us a review wherever you download your podcast? And you can always find a printable and shareable version of these commentaries by visiting us at breakpoint.org. For the Colson Center, I'm John Stone Street.
