The last time Pam and I visited Washington, D.C. our kids were much younger. Last week we spent time in D.C. with our daughter Maggie who has an internship before her senior year in college. Obviously seeing her was the highlight of the trip, but we also had time each day she was working to visit many of the museums and historical sites. We saw the Holocaust Museum which was deeply moving. We spent a whole day in the Newseum which was dedicated to all forms of telling the news, as well as the news events that were covered. And we went through the almost-completed Museum of the American Indian. We also visited the Vietnam War Memorial, as well as the World War II War Memorial.

Each of these places made an impression on me. I thought about how blessed we are to have a city where we can be reminded of some of the most important things in life that have shaped us as individuals and as a country. Spending time thinking about the sacrifices brave men and women have made for others reminds me of the verse in the Bible that says, "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." (John 15:13, NIV)
 
I was also moved by how much human suffering there is in the world. Beginning with the Holocaust Museum and moving through others that tell the stories of how people have been mistreated, you are almost overwhelmed at the brokenness in our world and how unkind we can be to one another. It reminded me that our world is in genuine need of a real savior, not just someone to help us do a little better. In his letter to Rome, Paul writes, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (5:8, NIV) We need God's love and grace so that we can all make this world a better place!

Prayer for Today

Gracious God, we thank you for those who sacrificed so that we might live and thrive. Help us to serve one another in the same way Christ chose to serve us. We pray this in the strong name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.