The night is dark, and the soldier looked into the darkness, and wondered if he was the only one awake in the obscurity of this long night. As he stood there, he fingered the cross on the chain around his neck, right there in among his dog tags, and a thought came to him.
Christ had stood his own long watch that night in the garden, waiting for events to come in their time, and he waited knowing what was to come. He too had doubts, but only in himself, not in his purpose, or the importance of what he had to do, to endure, and why. Imagine his thoughts, his inner conflict, was he strong enough, was he going to be able to do this, would he fail? His own state of mind was clear in his remarks to the disciples, chiding them to stay awake while he prayed. But he had to be alone, he had to stand his ‘watch’ alone, because he had to be the single proof for what was to come.
And when it came to him to stand and accept the events, as they each in their time took place, he did so. What strength it must have taken, what courage, and most of all, what belief in what he was to do. No man had ever carried such a load before, or since, and no man has ever had too since one man did in that garden so long ago. That is the ultimate duty, the final service to all mankind.
Like that soldier standing his long watch in the night, we too all stand our own watches. We come to this Easter with our own lives and our ‘duties’ we must observe. Our family connections, our friendships, and our careers all take a lot of our time, and yet we must come to that point where everything takes a backseat to our most important duty, our faith and our commitment to live it.
One man stood in a garden and came to the most difficult decisions, and in doing so gave all of us something so precious it can not be bought for all the gold in the world, nor sold for a single thin dime. The only coin of value in this moment is that of faith, simple faith.
Like the faith that carried Jesus through the trials and suffering of his last hours, we have to take a moment and make our own choices to live by. This Easter, I ask you to take the time and think of the meaning of this day, when a man stood to his terrible duty and made it happen, knowing in advance each terrible moment to come in their fullest.
Like our soldiers overseas serving in distant lands doing difficult and often dangerous service, we too must make a commitment to our duty, our faith. Remember that only those who have the faith in God will walk the halls of Heaven, not those with the most money, or the best connections, or the best political contacts. Be it a poor man in a slum, or a rich man with drawers of gold, all trust in a faith that says you will leave all material things behind, poverty and wealth, and surrender to your destiny, bought with simple faith.
This Easter I ask you to remember that single man in the garden and the choices he had to make, not for himself, but for each and every one of us. We must not forget the price paid for our salvation, nor must we accept anything but complete freedom to keep that duty of faith before us. Let us be like our Soldier and Sailors, Airmen and Marines, and stand to our duty in the long night of today’s world of little faith like lighthouses in the gathering darkness. Let us stand in our own gardens of faith, and pay the price of faith to honor one who did for us so long ago, for all eternity.
Remember those who serve, and be ready to serve them in support. Together we will built a better country, insure the freedoms in which faith is allowed, and build the fortitude to stand in faith to the challenges we will face. Let this Easter be your test, your chance to stand your own personal watch of faith.