Salvation is a journey, not a prayer you say one time at an altar call. Salvation is a journey of discovering who God is, who you are, what the church is, who the Jews are, what the Bible says, and what community really looks and sounds like. Salvation is hard times and joyous moments, it is humility and prosperity, it is healing and loss. Salvation is not a straight line, it is a windy road, it is tear and laughter, salvation is a journey and we are invited to enjoy the mysteries on the journey.

On this Memorial Day, in the USA, we remember our history as a nation. We remember those who fought wars so we could live free, we remember places where much blood was shed so we could salute the red, white and blue. We sing a national anthem, we watch parades, we tip our hats to our veterans and we thank God for our currently serving members of the military. Just like salvation, this nation has been and continues to be on a journey and today we remember moments from that journey.

Memories are there to teach us, to remind us, to encourage us that salvation is a journey. The salvation of a nation is a journey, the salvation of a soul is a journey, it is not a location or some far off destination. It is the everyday moments, where we listen to the song of creation being sung over a nation, while we sit on a porch or stand in a stadium to cheer on our favorite team.

Psalm 116 says, “I was brought low, and He saved me. Return to your rest, O my soul, For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.”

The journey is both low and bountiful. Ironically, both are needed for our maturity individually and nationally. But in it all we can say with the Psalmist, “I love the LORD, because He hears My voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live.” (Psalm 116:1-2) Enjoy the journey, call on the Lord and remember He is the God of salvation for the nation!