Taps

I will never forget the first time I heard the haunting sound of taps. I stood on the apron at West Point where the Corps of cadets would stand in formation in front of the dark granite buildings. We’d lost a fellow cadet. I remember the silence. Close to 4,000 cadets marched out at dusk, in perfect step, and all you could hear was the fall of our feet. As we stood perfectly still, we heard the lone bugle memorializing the fallen. I am saddened to say that I have heard that haunting sound more times than I can count since that day. Each time, I feel it to my core. As the notes carry in the air, you can feel the heaviness in your heart.

Taps originally began during the civil war and its original purpose was to signal lights out. It has now become the symbol of our last call, our final remembrance for our military fallen.

I heard that moving tune again today as we had a memorial at our unit to say our final goodbyes to a soldier gone too soon from this earth. As I rendered my final salute and watched over 200 soldiers do the same, I couldn’t help but feel the loss for those that were closest to him, the loss for his family. As I sat behind his daughter and son, I felt his pain at not being at their games, proms, graduations, her wedding or seeing her with her first child. . I felt a deep guilt knowing that in a couple of days I would be welcoming our first grandchild and watching our daughter become a mom. All ripped away in a blink. As I looked around the room, I saw the influence this young man had on his community. I heard how his joking and laughter and positive outlook affected all those he encountered. I knew that all of us were better for knowing him, no matter how little time we all had.

I also heard that a dear friend had to bury her father today. A life well lived, but we are never ready for that final good bye.

It is so easy to get lost in the sadness. During the memorial, our chaplain reminded us that God’s love is enduring and renews every morning…no matter how hard a day we have or how much we suffer through loss. His love never fails. “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him” (Lamentations 3:22-24, NIV). My last sight of the day as I departed was a beautiful bench that was built in memory of our soldier. The top of the bench had carved mountain scape and it reminded me of the tattoo I saw on one of his family member’s arms. God is greater than all of our highs and lows. God has us every moment of everyday, and He will have us again tomorrow.

Today I pray that you be renewed each day knowing that God’s compassion, God’s love never fails-it never leaves us. May you be strengthened in this knowledge.