Give Thanks...For Pioneers

 Today, my wife and I traveled to the next major city to the south, about twenty miles away. We left in the afternoon because we wanted to get home before the sun set. I like traveling with my wife. It's a good time for us to just talk--homeschooling our children for the past two decades plus, it's one of the few times my wife and I can spend time together until the kids go to sleep.

This afternoon one of the topics we discussed was our ancestors...

Specifically, the pioneers that settled the intermountain west.

Today was the kind of day that makes me appreciate just how amazing those people were.

This morning, we got hit with snow...the biggest storm we've experienced in the short time we've lived here. Last night's storm caused them to cancel church with the instruction for the congregation to stay home and stay warm. Because of our side gig, my family broke out the snowblower and shovels and we set out to clear the driveways, walkways, and approaches of snow. About halfway through our assignment, the wind hit. It was, in a word, miserable.

I admit, I am soft in many ways. Because I was born in the greatest country and during the greatest time in the history of the planet for humans, I've not known true hunger. I've not known extreme conditions. I've not known poverty, or any of the other ills that plagued humanity throughout history.

I am truly blessed.

Today, as we drove south, my wife and I discussed what it must have been like to travel in a covered wagon or pulling a handcart in these conditions. It hurts my brain to think about it. When we were out in the elements earlier today, we had on waterproof coats, hats, gloves, insulated clothing. We could retreat to a heated car or home at any time. Once done with shoveling we did exactly that. None of these things were available two hundred years ago. 

I'm convinced our ancestors who risked literal death to make a better life for themselves in a new world are superheroes. They were just built different back then. I'm grateful for their sacrifices. I pray I can possess a fraction of that courage. If we all did, the world would be a much better place.

Give Thanks...For Sacrifice

 There are a lot of crap things found in social media...but since there's opposition in all things, I suppose it can be a force for good. I found something written by a friend, a fellow performer, and a soldier.

I felt it appropriate for the day before Memorial Day. The following is used with his permission.

Memorial Day 2021 - Finding Your Thermopylae

I have a tradition with students, Cadets, Soldiers, etc. of giving a “Last Lecture”, - a PPT with images and videos that illustrates my so-called “Ten Lessons for Life.” They include things like being a good neighbor, being humble, not sweating the small stuff, and more. Rule 7, however, is on my mind today this Memorial Day, as it is, “Find Your Thermopylae.”

You see, around 480 BC in a coastal mountain pass in Greece, 300 Spartans, led by their King, Leonidas, stood against an overwhelming and daunting Persian Force, and accepted a certain death mission to protect their retreating compatriots, delay the Persians, and indirectly inspire legend, other city-states, and Hollywood. More importantly for my lesson, they became an archetype for individuals literally willing to die for a cause. The challenge I give those who cross my classroom thresholds is to find THEIR Thermopylae - to ask themselves what are THEY willing to die for.

Now, I sincerely hope none of my charges is ever forced to make that horrific exchange, but I think it important to evaluate what things we would “stand at Thermopylae” to protect. Within the military (and most of the time outside as well) I’ve observed that the top three answers are always, “Family, God, and Country,” with fellow Veterans usually coming in fourth. What becomes the poignant and sometimes uncomfortable part of the lesson is when I follow up the question “What are you willing to die for?” with, “What are you willing to LIVE for?” Many have said they’d die for their country, but don’t vote, or take an active role in their country’s future (i.e. give up time to improve their country). They say they’d die for their family, yet ignore family members’ pleas or needs (often avoiding them). There are those who stand by their religion or faith “Til death,” but don’t live it in how they treat others, legislate, or behaved during this Pandemic year. Many would “take a bullet” for a Battle Buddy, but not a phone call.

So what’s the point? Memorial Day is a time set aside to honor those who wore, served in, and died in, a uniform. It honors those who, for whatever their reasons may be, found their “Thermopylae.” For me, it’s also a reminder of what their Thermopylae’s were - what things they truly died to protect, preserve, or promote. It’s a bit trite to merely reduce such things to “freedom” or “justice,” as the actualities are far more complex and nuanced. Further, those at the helm often have less honorable intentions or ideals. The fact, however, remains that there are those who gave their own futures for the one we currently hold and shape, and today I am in meditative contemplation on how we live for that things they died for. When we don’t protect basic freedoms, attack each others’ essential liberties, or ignore the volatility around us, it may be that we are figuratively trampling what they actually fought and died for. They may have carried flags, worn uniforms, and proudly sung an anthem but I guarantee that piece of cloth, or bit of song isn’t what they died for. I believe, and would propose, that the true duty we owe is in making this a country worth fighting and dying for, and in celebrating the joys that they don’t get to today.

“If flowers are all we bring them now, then they have died in vain.

If tears are all we shed for them, forgotten they remain.

If by their courage we ourselves to courage are not led...

Then needlessly these graves have closed above our heroes dead.” - Edgar A. Guest

And to Brent, Josh, Joe, Kim, Lori, Ashley, Oscar, Fernando, Liam, Sakhidad, and far too many more to name or count... I’m sorry. I miss you. And I mourn you. You should have lived longer had the world been a better place. You found your Thermopylae, and now await Valhalla. May the rest of us find ours...

Happy Memorial Day

Josh Curtis

Josh wears the uniform and teaches those that share that commitment. My father also wore the uniform and worked at the same place Josh works now. I'll bet they'd have been good friends, had they met. Thanks Josh for the words, for the friendship, and especially for your example. I hope I'll be able to remember your words tomorrow, and always.