Being called to missions in many different places around this country, I am more than a thousand miles from the resting place of my father, a veteran of WWII. A merchant marine who stood off the coast of Normandy on D-Day as part of the flotilla supporting the troops storming the beaches, he was overwhelmed when our nation finally recognized the role the Liberty ships played in the battle to preserve the free world.
Today, his remains are interred at Point Loma overlooking the sea he so loved. My brother (a romantic) likes to characterize Pops with the historic metaphor of seamen from centuries past as having a "heart of oak." Taken from the march for the Royal Navy, it describes the strength and resilience of a man's core, just as the foundation of a ship was the oaken keel. And that was my father, strong yet resilient, always rising to the challenge just as a ship climbs and crests the swells at sea.
Although I cannot physically attend my father's grave to place upon it flowers, I can offer prayers and thanksgiving for him and his fellow men and women who protect the freedom that allows me to speak boldly of our nation's rich heritage and, I pray, good future.
Please hold up the protectors of freedom, those who have answered the call to serve our nation, in prayer and gratitude on this Memorial Day. Do not forget the sacrifice they made for us to continue in Liberty and do not, I ask you, take that Liberty for granted but consider our nation's troubled future, speak and act as God gifts you to re-establish the Founders' vision of fair winds to uplift mankind.
Blessings to you all,
Dru
Heave Ho! My Lads, Heave Ho!
It's a long, long way to go.
It's a long, long pull with our hatches full,
Braving the wind, braving the sea,
Fighting the treacherous foe...
Former newspaper publisher, A. Dru Kristenev, grew up in the publishing industry working every angle of a paper, from ad composition and sales, to personnel management, copy writing, and overseeing all editorial content. During her tenure as a news professional, Kristenev traveled internationally as a representative of the paper and, on separate occasions, non-profit organizations. Since 2007, Kristenev has authored five fact-filled political suspense novels, the Baron Series, and two non-fiction books, all available on Amazon. Carrying an M.S. degree and having taught at premier northwest universities, she is the trustee of Scribes’ College of Journalism, which mission is to train a new generation of journalists in biblical standards of reporting. More information about the college and how to support it can be obtained by contacting Kristenev at cw.o@earthlink.net.
ChangingWind (changingwind.org) is a solutions-centered Christian ministry.
