To See the Face of God
Today I was able to attend the annual Volkstrauertag memorial service at Fort Douglas Military Cemetery in Salt Lake City. Volkstrauertag is the German National Day of Remembrance (their version of the American Memorial Day) which takes place every year, two Sundays before the first Advent (first Sunday before Christmas). It commemorates members of the German armed forces and civilians who died in armed conflicts, to include victims of violent oppression. The Volkstrauertag service at Fort Douglas is held to pay tribute to the 41 German Prisoners of War buried at that military cemetery, as well as honor all other soldiers from all nations buried there and throughout the world. In attendance were those from the Consulate for Germany in Utah, members of the 76th Operational Response, and the Assistance Adjutant General of the Utah Army National Guard. Members of the Quorum of the Seventy from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were also in attendance.
Right from the beginning of the ceremony, I was at such perfect peace. I don't know if it was because the warm autumn sun rested directly on my face; or perhaps it was that I was sitting under large beautiful golden-leaved trees that rustled and blew in the wind; or maybe because I was made somber and filled with gratitude by looking at the many small oval cream headstones within the cemetery; probably a combination of all these, plus the reason I was in attendance, I was at peace. It was beautiful, it was sweet, and it was tender, the spirit that was felt this morning honoring those of two countries I love, who gave their lives as an offering for service and for freedom, was definitely worth writing about and remembering.
James T. Burton, Honorary Consul for Germany here in Utah, talked about his time as a young Mormon missionary in northern Germany 20-odd years ago. He talked about how his heart belonged in two places, that the love and tenderness he felt for each country - his blessed homeland of the United States and the "Fatherland" of Germany - was inadequate to put into words. He said that his love of both lands has come through his years of seeking opportunities to serve, and for having served, the people in times of plenty and joy as well as times of ache and suffering. My little sister who is a senior in high school and my sweet 14 year old little brother came with me this morning (mostly for their German classes and extra credit for attending), but it was still neat to share that experience with them. However, they didn't fully understand what Mr. Burton was saying. Many others I'm sure also just simply appreciated his remarks and didn't give it any other thought. I didn't, though. What he said has stuck with me through the whole day. I knew what he meant. I knew exactly what he meant.
My love for Germany is something that first was planted when I was a little girl, and has taken deep root since. Maybe it's the fond memories of Christmas Eve at my grandparent's each year where we have a German dinner. Maybe it's the love my 7th grade German teacher enstilled in me when we'd sing German songs every class period. Maybe I took to heart being the "crazy German girl" in elementary and jr. high school because of country reports & Halloween costumes. Maybe it's because The Sound of Music will always be in my top 3 favorite movies. Maybe it was my first experience to Europe in traveling to Switzerland and Germany after high school graduation. Of course, and I know for a fact, the majority of my love I credit to my time as a missionary for 19 months in southern Germany and Austria. Out of all these things, what it really comes down to, and the principle I think James Burton was talking about, is applicable to each of us, wherever we associate and to whomever we may feel a connection. What I think he was saying is this:
When we offer of ourselves, we become vulnerable. It's unnatural to put ourselves in a situation where we feel exposed, or weak, or frightened. We try to avoid placing others in those situations too. But when we serve, when we break that comfort zone barrier and extend a hand and reach out, we are changed. Perhaps it is to help an elderly neighbor who is ill, or a young mother who is overwhelmed and feeling discouraged. We reach out, we help, we support, and we go on. But I don't think it's that simple. I mean, there is great power in simplicity, but the blessings we individually reap by reaching out to those who are in need of our service is literally something we cannot fathom. We develop a love for them - whether they be masses or individuals - and this love is forever engraven upon our hearts. We will not, and simply cannot, return to the individual we were before we extended our helping hand, because as we serve we are changed. We become the love we offer, and we are literally transformed.
....I suppose what I'm trying to say is how grateful I am for the helping hand in my behalf. I am grateful for the friend who helps keep things in perspective. I'm grateful for the family member who reminds me in Whom I can find my greatest source of light and strength each day. I'm grateful for the grandparent who reminds me that it's ok to feel like your life is falling apart in your twenties, because things are really falling into place. I am grateful for the encouragement, support, and faith as I continue to figure out who I am and who I want to be. And of course, in honoring day's Volkstrauertag, as well as this last week's Veteran's Day, I am grateful and forever indebted to those who have given their lives to protect the freedoms I all too often take for granted.
Despite all these selfish thanks, I'm even more grateful for the opportunity to serve. I am grateful that I have been able to look back on my life and say that I have been changed because of the comparibly small amount service I've offered. I hope to continue to grow in this area, so that service literally becomes a part of who I am. I am not the same person I was yesterday, and I hope to be a different - and better - person tomorrow. I shout praises to my God who blessed me to be born and raised in a land of security, of peace, of freedoms, and of privilege. I am grateful for the love buried so deep in my soul for the German people and their country that it has literally become a part of who I am.
In the words of Victor Hugo,
Right from the beginning of the ceremony, I was at such perfect peace. I don't know if it was because the warm autumn sun rested directly on my face; or perhaps it was that I was sitting under large beautiful golden-leaved trees that rustled and blew in the wind; or maybe because I was made somber and filled with gratitude by looking at the many small oval cream headstones within the cemetery; probably a combination of all these, plus the reason I was in attendance, I was at peace. It was beautiful, it was sweet, and it was tender, the spirit that was felt this morning honoring those of two countries I love, who gave their lives as an offering for service and for freedom, was definitely worth writing about and remembering.
James T. Burton, Honorary Consul for Germany here in Utah, talked about his time as a young Mormon missionary in northern Germany 20-odd years ago. He talked about how his heart belonged in two places, that the love and tenderness he felt for each country - his blessed homeland of the United States and the "Fatherland" of Germany - was inadequate to put into words. He said that his love of both lands has come through his years of seeking opportunities to serve, and for having served, the people in times of plenty and joy as well as times of ache and suffering. My little sister who is a senior in high school and my sweet 14 year old little brother came with me this morning (mostly for their German classes and extra credit for attending), but it was still neat to share that experience with them. However, they didn't fully understand what Mr. Burton was saying. Many others I'm sure also just simply appreciated his remarks and didn't give it any other thought. I didn't, though. What he said has stuck with me through the whole day. I knew what he meant. I knew exactly what he meant.
My love for Germany is something that first was planted when I was a little girl, and has taken deep root since. Maybe it's the fond memories of Christmas Eve at my grandparent's each year where we have a German dinner. Maybe it's the love my 7th grade German teacher enstilled in me when we'd sing German songs every class period. Maybe I took to heart being the "crazy German girl" in elementary and jr. high school because of country reports & Halloween costumes. Maybe it's because The Sound of Music will always be in my top 3 favorite movies. Maybe it was my first experience to Europe in traveling to Switzerland and Germany after high school graduation. Of course, and I know for a fact, the majority of my love I credit to my time as a missionary for 19 months in southern Germany and Austria. Out of all these things, what it really comes down to, and the principle I think James Burton was talking about, is applicable to each of us, wherever we associate and to whomever we may feel a connection. What I think he was saying is this:
When we offer of ourselves, we become vulnerable. It's unnatural to put ourselves in a situation where we feel exposed, or weak, or frightened. We try to avoid placing others in those situations too. But when we serve, when we break that comfort zone barrier and extend a hand and reach out, we are changed. Perhaps it is to help an elderly neighbor who is ill, or a young mother who is overwhelmed and feeling discouraged. We reach out, we help, we support, and we go on. But I don't think it's that simple. I mean, there is great power in simplicity, but the blessings we individually reap by reaching out to those who are in need of our service is literally something we cannot fathom. We develop a love for them - whether they be masses or individuals - and this love is forever engraven upon our hearts. We will not, and simply cannot, return to the individual we were before we extended our helping hand, because as we serve we are changed. We become the love we offer, and we are literally transformed.
....I suppose what I'm trying to say is how grateful I am for the helping hand in my behalf. I am grateful for the friend who helps keep things in perspective. I'm grateful for the family member who reminds me in Whom I can find my greatest source of light and strength each day. I'm grateful for the grandparent who reminds me that it's ok to feel like your life is falling apart in your twenties, because things are really falling into place. I am grateful for the encouragement, support, and faith as I continue to figure out who I am and who I want to be. And of course, in honoring day's Volkstrauertag, as well as this last week's Veteran's Day, I am grateful and forever indebted to those who have given their lives to protect the freedoms I all too often take for granted.
Despite all these selfish thanks, I'm even more grateful for the opportunity to serve. I am grateful that I have been able to look back on my life and say that I have been changed because of the comparibly small amount service I've offered. I hope to continue to grow in this area, so that service literally becomes a part of who I am. I am not the same person I was yesterday, and I hope to be a different - and better - person tomorrow. I shout praises to my God who blessed me to be born and raised in a land of security, of peace, of freedoms, and of privilege. I am grateful for the love buried so deep in my soul for the German people and their country that it has literally become a part of who I am.
In the words of Victor Hugo,
“And remember, the truth that once was spoken: To love another person is to see the face of God.”
- Nat
Comments
Post a Comment