|
“He Threw Himself on the Grenade for Me” — A
Memorial Day Story of Transformation
This is Stan, and I want to welcome you to a story that’s
more than a Memorial Day message. It’s about memory and meaning,
about service and sacrifice, but above all—it’s about
transformation.
From Bike Parades to Battlefields
I remember when Memorial Day fell on May 31st, not just on
the Monday that made for a three-day weekend. It was a sacred day,
a break in the normal rhythm of life. In my small town, we’d
decorate our bikes with crepe paper and flags and trail behind the
veterans as they marched through Main Street. The parade ended at
the cemetery, where taps echoed through the air and spent shells
from the 21-gun salute became childhood souvenirs.
It was a holiday, yes—but one wrapped in reverence.
The Day I Entered the World of
Radio
Another Memorial Day stands out for me. It was during the
time I made a dramatic career pivot—from teaching to broadcasting.
I was still juggling both, working full-time at school and studying
broadcasting by night. We were told there’d be no class that
holiday Monday, and we all sighed with relief.
But then our instructor dropped a little truth bomb on us: “Enjoy
it. It’s the last holiday you’ll ever have off. Radio doesn’t
stop.”
And he was right. From that day on, I worked holidays. No more time
off. Why? Because someone had to be there—on air, in voice,
speaking truth, remembering, reminding. That’s what transformation
demanded of me: to step into a new calling and stay present, even
on days of rest.
Brennan Manning and the Weight of
Sacrifice
But the story that defines Memorial Day for me isn’t mine.
It belongs to Brennan Manning.
You may know him as the compelling speaker and author who shared
deeply about grace, addiction, and faith. I had the privilege of
picking him up once for a speaking engagement at our church. As we
drove, he quietly mentioned that “Brennan” wasn’t his real
name.
He shared the story behind it. During the Korean War, a grenade
landed in the trench where he and a few others were huddled. A
friend of his—without hesitation—threw himself on the grenade. It
killed him but saved Brennan and the others.
Brennan told me, “He didn’t just die for his country. He died for
me.”
Think about that.
“No greater love has anyone than this: to lay down one’s life for
one’s friends.”
That act transformed Brennan. But it also burdened him. He carried
guilt. He wrestled with the question, *How do I live a life worthy
of that sacrifice?* That guilt led him into addiction, then into
recovery—and ultimately into ministry.
He confided that he always needed to have someone from AA on call.
Just in case. Just to remember he wasn’t alone. Transformation, he
reminded me, doesn’t always happen in a straight line. It’s messy.
It’s humbling. It’s painful. But it’s real.
Memorial Day: A Time for Remembering and
Reimagining
As we honor those who laid down their lives this Memorial
Day, let’s also remember the living legacies of transformation they
leave behind. Some gave their lives in uniform. Others gave their
lives in other ways—serving, sacrificing, showing up. Brennan’s
friend didn’t just save a life—he transformed one. And Brennan, for
all his brokenness, turned his life into a source of transformation
for others.
A Few Takeaways to Reflect On:
• Transformation often begins with sacrifice—someone gives
up something, sometimes everything, so another can live, grow, or
thrive.
• Guilt can hinder growth unless we find community and
purpose to work through it.
• Old voices still speak—and if we’ve lived long enough,
it’s probably because we’ve learned something worth
sharing.
• Radio, like life, never turns off. We stay “on the air”
because someone may be listening, someone who needs our
words.
Final Thoughts: Entering the Transformation
Zone
We don’t need to wait for a national holiday to start living
transformed lives. But Memorial Day gives us a moment to pause,
reflect, and commit.
Transformation isn’t just about changing jobs or habits. It’s about
deeper shifts—of heart, spirit, and perspective. Maybe this summer
is your time for that. Maybe this is your moment to enter the
transformation zone.
Tell your story. Receive someone else’s. And like Brennan, may your
life—no matter how imperfect—become the spark for someone else's
transformation.
Thanks for listening.
Till next time,
Stan
|
