Dear Readers,
In a Tavern it is likely you will meet war veterans. Seeking others who share their love for country and relationship, a tavern becomes a natural gathering place.
I always enjoy hearing veterans reflect on their time in the military. It is a unique bond among them that I don’t share having never served in the armed forces, but I share their love of country.
In this issue of The Three Taverns (Acts 28:15) I wanted to consider what it is we have been given by the sacrifice of those who have served and did not make it home.
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IN MEMORIAM
Growing up my father was gone a lot. Business trips, work, and late nights in bars. I am thankful that in the last years of his life he spent time patching things up and rebuilding relationships.
But as a young boy I needed a hero. I wanted to know how a man should act. One of those heroes for me was my Mom's brother, my uncle Earl.
We called him "Uncle Earl '' our entire lives. He was a wiry small man who worked on cars. He liked to smoke cigarettes, laughed a lot, was as country as they come, and he always had time for me. I even emulated his walk, this long-stepped, slow amble.
He was also a Vietnam War veteran. The Vietnam War is considered to be one of our military boondoggles and as a nation it created heated protests and division.
Even when our soldiers returned, they were not supported or celebrated as our soldiers had been in the past. But Uncle Earl built a good life, as good as he could considering the mental torment he developed, what we now know as PTSD.
He took lithium for the rest of his life; if he ever stopped, he would go into manic mode and not sleep, would smell burning flesh, have horrible nightmares. There were many times he ended up in V.A. hospital mental wards getting stabilized again. On his meds he was highly functional, smart, informed, funny, and loved us kids and his sister, my mother.
One thing in particular I remember about Uncle Earl: If the national anthem was ever played and the flag raised in his presence he would weep. He couldn't stop himself. He loved his country, even though he was not celebrated as he should have been. He knew people who did not make it home and had horrible memories from his time in that war, but he loved his country and was very patriotic.
I thought of Uncle Earl yesterday and thanked God that I had him in my life. Then I thought of all those in my life now who are actively serving and I thanked God for them. But Memorial Day is not for the living veterans; it is for those that living veterans know that did not make it home!
It is for those who went into the battlefield as young men and women and gave the ultimate sacrifice fighting to protect our homeland.
As we prepare for the parties and barbecues this weekend, it is good to take a moment to remember those who have perished protecting our nation and ask yourself if you are living in a way that is worthy of that greatest of sacrifices...someone's life.
This video from my good friend Shawn Ryan is powerful and moving. It is worth taking 10 minutes to watch and remind yourself of the blessings we have been given as a nation and by those who put their lives on the line to protect her. God bless you as you reflect on these thoughts, pray for the revival of our national pride and character, and individually decide to live worthy of this sacrifice.
COMING UP IN “TAVERN TALKS”
If you are local in the Mid-TN area, you are welcome to join us at “Tavern Talks.”
Next Tuesday at "Tavern Talks" Mark Collins, close friend of mine and a co-owner of The Mission Cigar & Social will be sharing some of his life story with us. I know Mark will bring his usual candor, heart-felt and honest words to us as we hear about how God has worked in his life.
(We re-scheduled Daniel Willis, Spring Hill police officer, due to a calendar conflict).
This meeting is growing in number but also depth of fellowship, friendship, and truth. So encouraging!
No one there has been untouched by authentic teaching, story-telling, laughs, encouragement. You are welcome if you live in the Mid-TN area.
Bring your Bible, your coffee, get your first cigar of the day, and jump in with us.
In the Tavern with us:
May 28: Mark Collins, husband, father, businessman, co-owner of The Mission Cigar & Social
June 4, Cactus Moser, drummer, producer, writer, Wynonna Judd’s husband
June 11, Daniel Willis, Spring Hill police officer
Hope to see you there!
Looking up (Luke 21:28),
Tod Bell
Chief Tavern Host