Today and tomorrow as the country observes Veterans Day, my mind goes to my brother Ezra, members of the church I serve, and others I know who have given military service. It is a grave thing to be empowered with deadly force that one might be called on to use against other human lives. Even in situations where morality would justify limited violence to defend human rights, entering armed conflict means accepting spiritual jeopardy on behalf of civilians and the values of one’s country. Images from Gaza and Ukraine show us all the awfulness of war, especially its consequences to noncombatants and God’s creation. These scenes echo what many of America’s veterans have experienced or caused. The Americans we honor with this holiday carry such grievous memories within their souls. Often, their bodies and minds bear the scars of military service as well. I’m grateful for the service of military chaplains who accompany veterans in the lifelong burden-bearing that’s asked of them on the other side of military service.

War is evil. On occasion it may be a lesser evil, but even a just cause has a corrosive effect on the spirit. Every bomb dropped, every missile launched, and every gun fired in war is an admission that we have failed to resolve conflict with creative, faithful peacemaking, and have decided the only option left is to destroy the image of God in another human being. On this weekend of observance and throughout the year, I encourage those who are non-veterans to seek out merciful, listening conversations with those who have willingly gone into harm’s way. With our actions and listening spirits, let us surround all the victims of war with compassion. Let us also hold fast to the creative, nonviolent ways of the Prince of Peace, who treated his opponents with mercy, and commanded his followers to pray for enemies. We believe, live, and act from the conviction that in God’s kin-dom future, people “shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Isaiah 2:4).

Cover photo: Evan Schneider/Creative Commons; accessed here.