In Ukraine on May 9th is celebrated Victory Day. It is a combination of Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day rolled into one. This day 62 years ago the Great Patriotic War or World War II officially came to an end. A good reason to celebrate and a good reason to remember the 40 million people, 20 million from the former Soviet Union alone, who lost their lives in this conflict.
As you walk the streets of most cities in Ukraine you will quickly come upon a veteran. They are easy to spot because they are wearing their uniform proudly and usually have a chest full of medals. Whether in America or Ukraine, I just want to go up to these men and women to say thank you. I often did this when I lived in the USA. What unspeakable horrors these men witnessed. How strange to be living now on the other side and wanting to thank Ukrainians for their bravery.
America and the Soviet Union fought on the same side during that conflict, but history records our relationship turned cold soon thereafter. For much of my life, those we now consider our friends were indeed called the enemy.
For Ukrainians the name of this conflict makes sense because they were fighting on their soil, for their homes and their families. For Americans we were fighting more for ideals. We romantize our history probably to hide the horror and reality of war.
It is easy to say that freedom is not free but bought at a price. But are we willing to pay the price? There is a freedom however we cannot earn, our freedom from sin. It too was bought at a tremendous price, the death of our savior, Jesus Christ. On the final day of judgement will you be able to celebrate for eternity the victory won for those who place their faith in Christ?
