A Few Thoughts on Memorial Day

I snapped the above photo at a neighborhood park several days ago. VB

Yesterday morning, my church fellowship in St. Paul was treated to a recital by our pianist, a recent graduate from an area college, who will soon be leaving for an out-of-state teaching position.

After the service, several of us regrouped around sidewalk tables in front of a nearby café, grateful for an opportunity to spend time together outdoors on a balmy afternoon.

I arrived home at around 2:00 p.m.

At 4:37 p.m. a tornado warning was issued for the Hugo area, a northeastern suburb of St. Paul. The tornado struck minutes later, taking the life of a two-year-old and injuring eight others. Another tornado left seven dead in Iowa, Minnesota’s neighbor to the south.

The storm-related tragedies in our vicinity this weekend evoked memories of the widespread disasters wrought by earthquakes and violent storms in China and in Myanmar in recent weeks. I just checked the latest reports, and the death toll in China’s Sichuan province has reached 55,239.

Memorial Day is traditionally a day to honor those who have died in our nation's service and with the continuation of our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan the death toll continues to rise.

For many of us, Memorial Day is also a time for decorating the graves of friends and loved ones whose memories we continue to cherish.

I believe it’s appropriate on Memorial Day to include in our thoughts and prayers those among us whose grief is still fresh and raw from the loss of loved ones, whatever the cause.

And as long as we’re remembering those who are suffering, let’s make room in our hearts on this day for all those whose lives are burdened with physical or emotional pain, oppression, or anxiety about the future.

To that end, I offer once again the healing power of the ancient Buddhist Loving Kindness Prayer:

(Substitute whatever pronoun or name you choose for “we”)

May we be filled with loving kindness;
May we be safe from all internal and external harm;
May we be as healed and whole as possible;
May we be peaceful and ease;
May we be happy.

Peace to all this Memorial Day, May 26, 2008,

Virginia