From the Pulpit: No greater love
“LOL. Thank you, now I just got tech school.” That was the text response I received from one of our 2024 Brandon Valley High School graduates, Ryder Haas, after congratulating him on completing Air Force boot camp in San Antonio, Texas, this summer. He then went on to tell me that he got to see another BV graduate, Brady Thompson, as he, too, was going through boot camp. He texted, “I got to see and talk to Brady when we went to church.” Hopefully they didn’t talk throughout the whole Church service though! These two young men are forgoing their first year of college to enlist in the Air Guards out of Sioux Falls and missing most of their summer to go to boot camp and be yelled at by drill sergeants. Why? Love of God and love of neighbor. They spend the bulk of their weeks in physical training – running, pushups, sit-ups – followed by learning what it means to be an Airman and serve our great country.
I’ve always been very inspired by the Brandon community in the respect they show to our country and the freedoms that we enjoy. Our youth grow up standing along Holly Boulevard, the parade route, as floats and local organizations walk down the street throwing out candy, in our Loyalty Day Parade. Every kid in town knows that the first Sunday of May, the American Flags line the parade route, lots of candy is collected (stomachaches ensue) and we stand for the Flag. They also grow up attending high school football games at our stadium where at every game, not just the Pigskin Classic, but every game the fans stand as the American Flag is carried onto the field by our local VFW and American Legion veterans. We listen and sing the National Anthem (although sadly this year we will miss Scotty who so proudly led us in song) and silently wait for the colors to be retired off the field. Or, we recall the climax of our youths’ high school careers, graduation, where after the grand march of all the graduates, every member of the senior class who will be heading off to join our military forces stands at attention on the stage as the National Anthem is beautifully played by the concert band. Our community understands the sacrifices that our military men and women have made for the freedoms that we enjoy and they take time throughout the year in many ways to show their respect.
So is it any wonder that Ryder and Brady, as well as many other youths of our community, make a commitment to serve our nation. We hear in the Gospel of John 15:13, “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Our model for this passage is Christ Himself, willing to sacrifice everything for love of us, His friends. Those that make the choice to serve our nation are willing to do the same for people and nations they don’t even know. Why on earth would anyone choose this path and give up all the other things that life has to offer? They learn that love from Christ!
Remember, Brady and Ryder in the midst of the hellish weeks of boot camp, went to gain strength from God at Church, and to catch up as friends. Make good on the opportunities we have to learn how to love from God and to show that same love to our neighbor. Not everyone can join the military and serve in this capacity, but thank God for those who do! God Bless You, Ryder and Brady. Thank you for your service.
