How many times do we walk by a memorial without giving it a second thought? I, for one, am guilty of this more times than I care to admit. But in early July, after a weekend swim meet down in Chula Vista, my family and I decided to stop by a place in San Diego we’d never visited—Liberty Station.
Nestled within Liberty Station is NTC Park, a beautiful spot for a picnic (remember those? Do people—or families—even still do that?), a workout, a leisurely walk, or even a little plane spotting. And that’s exactly what we did—plane spot.
The back end of the San Diego Airport butts up against the backside of NTC Park, making it the perfect place to watch planes take off and see the occasional boat pass through the adjacent canal. It’s beautiful.
But as we walked along the park’s long pathways, I began to notice small granite pillars lining the way. While watching one plane after another take off, I walked up to one of them and realized they weren’t just decorative. These were miniature monuments—each one honoring fallen heroes who perished in the depths of the ocean during World War II while serving aboard submarines.
These are silent heroes, the kind who often go unnoticed in our day-to-day lives. Men who fought in the darkness of the deep sea for the sake of freedom—and gave the ultimate sacrifice: their lives.
As I looked around, I noticed no one else stopped to read the names engraved in those granite blocks. I hadn’t planned to either. I was one of them—rushing past, indifferent. I have to admit that on the ride home, I felt a deep sense of shame for how easily I had allowed indifference to dull my awareness of the courageous sacrifices made by so many for our country.
But as I reflected on their sacrifice, my heart was drawn to the One who made the greatest sacrifice of all—Jesus Christ.
And I couldn’t help but realize: His sacrifice often goes unnoticed too, even by those of us who benefit from it every day. Just like the granite memorials in our parks and museums fade into the background of our busy lives, so too can the cross lose its meaning in our daily walk.
Sure, we celebrate Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday—but what about the rest of the year? How often do we let the cares of this world lead us to a quiet indifference toward the cross?
Be honest. When you see a cross—whether on a necklace, a tattoo, a painting, or hanging on a wall—do you really stop and think about what it means?
I know I don’t. At least, not often enough.
Yet it should always be a moment of reflection. A moment to remember that what we now wear as jewelry or display as art was once a torture device. The cross was a place of cruel, deliberate suffering, meant to humiliate and destroy the condemned. And our Savior willingly suffered, bled, and died there—so that we might have life, and have it more abundantly.
What a tragedy when we forget that.
Through those small granite monuments honoring the men who served our country in metal, submersible cylinders, I was reminded of the great cost of the freedom my family and I enjoy today. But more importantly, I was reminded of the ultimate sacrifice made for all of humanity through Jesus Christ.
So my hope is this:
The next time you come across a memorial—any kind of monument to the men and women who gave their lives for freedom—take a moment. Pause. Reflect. Thank the Lord for what we have.
But even more than that, I hope the next time you see a cross, you’re reminded of the ultimate sacrifice made for us by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. A sacrifice that cost Him everything, yet was freely given to us.
What a deal!
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” —John 3:16–17
This post is my way of remembering those who died for our country—while also pointing to the Savior who died to set our souls free.
I pray it encourages you to pause, reflect, and give thanks—for the brave, and for the Savior who gave it all!
😁Have A Nice Day!👍🏻
If you like this video/post, click the LIKE and/or RE-STACK buttons so more people can discover it on Substack.
Better yet, share it with family, friends & co-workers to spread the Good News!
GOSPEL CARDS: PLANT A SEED!
If you’d like to get your hands on the gospel cards that we produce, please go HERE, fill out the form and let me know how many you’d like—for free!
My only request is that you’d cover the cost of shipping.
If you feel led to support and want to donate beyond the cost of shipping to help offset the costs of production (printing, ink, labels, etc.), we would be blessed. But if you cannot, we’ll still send them your way!
🔥🔥🔥 If you enjoy this content, help me keep it “PAYWALL FREE” by donating and/or supporting it by following the link(s) below. Your contribution is what helps this publication and work continue. Thank you so much for your consideration:
