Love
There’s Nothing Offensive About Loving Your Country
This weekend I’m helping to coordinate the South Kitsap Class of 1971 Golden Reunion in Port Orchard, Washington. One hundred and thirty-five classmates and friends will enjoy a touching and hilarious program at the main event which ends with us singing our school Alma Mater. The final slide will say “We Love you” and the concluding song is James Taylor’s “You Got a Friend.”
It’s normal to love your family, school, classmates, nation and beyond–if you’re a caring human being. But across the water in Sammamish, Washington, love of nation is being viewed as offensive.
That’s just plainly demonic.
There’s nothing wrong about loving your country.
Before I Leave This Earth
Two men I admire died recently and neither left this earth on their own terms. Floyd McClung, Jr. was a gentle giant who taught our mission to love the unlovely and personally helped me with a book on leadership. Dave Frederick was a long-time friend who set a marvelous example of caring for at-risk kids and the homeless.
Floyd contracted a disease in Africa that left him unable to communicate and care for himself the last five years of his life. Dave died of hereditary cancer that took the life of his dad at forty-eight, and him, after a lengthy battle, at sixty-six.
Neither ended his life on earth as desired. Few people do–and those who schedule it may have a problem in eternity. So, how should we live our final days if given the chance to chart it?
Here are my thoughts before I leave this earth.
Memorial Day 2021: The Bravest Boehme
My mom and I visited Sunset Lane today–our hometown cemetery–to honor loved ones on Memorial Day. The scenic property overlooking Sinclair Inlet was bedecked with American flags while hundreds stood for a military ceremony then visited nearby gravesites.
We walked the grounds and placed beautiful rhododendron from mom’s yard by the tombstones of our loved ones. We prayed, thanked God for their lives, their love of God and family, and their devotion to our country.
May coming generations continue to remember them.
Every Memorial Day I love to honor my “Uncle Dick” Boehme who gave his life for our freedom.
He is the Bravest Boehme.