It’s Memorial Day afternoon, and I’m sitting in my brother’s five foot trench. Outside the treetops blow calmly in the summer wind, and the sun shines its final rays unto the green prairie grass. I gaze unto the wooden cover that was a former piece of siding and now has taken the shape of a camouflage trench cover. Above is a machine gun, pointing threateningly at the road down below. Sure, it used to be part of a satellite dish, but painted camouflage, it doesn’t look all that bad. I begin to wonder…what it would have been like to view Normandy Beach June 6, 1944 . Exactly 67 years ago.
Have you ever considered the course of history if the battle of d-day had not occurred? When we picture the fields of white crosses surrounding Normandy America
One of the neatest providences of Operation Overlord was the weather miracle that occurred. As has happened many times throughout the course of history, God demonstrated His ability to control the weather for His plan. The May of 1944 was relatively decent weather. In order to ferry over the English Channel the vast amount of Allied troops needed for the invasion the weather needed to be prime. Aside from the amphibious landings, the weather must permit Operation Neptune, landing 24,000 Allied forces by air. Without a full moon to provide clear landing, and spring tide conditions to ensure deep water the Operation would have to be cancelled, leaving the waiting troops in an almost impossible position. Dwight Eisenhower conducted an emergency meeting with Group Captain J.M. Stagg, his principle meteorologist, on June 5. Leaning heavily on the proposed change in weather conditions the next day, he agreed to carry on the projected Operations. His decision would change the course of history…
Another providence that would highly facilitate the victory of Allied nations was the German’s confidence in the unsuitable weather. Amazingly enough, the weather was worse over Normandy English Channel . Assuming no attack could be made in the next few days, the Nazi generals took it easy, some even leaving their stance! Doesn’t God do the neatest things?!
But what can we learn from this? I doubt any of us might have the chance to come so close to a fight for our country’s liberty. And yet, we forget we are in a battle. This battle isn’t “against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Eph 6:12 )” Imagine the Christian’s life as Allied marines climbing the Juno beach cliffs. Every step is focused; there is no question whether or not an enemy is out to ruin them. Their goal is to take territory for their country-our goal is to take the world for our King. Their focus is on finishing the battle victorious-our goal is to say with Paul when we reach the top of life’s cliff, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (1 Timothy 4:7) Their motive is to win temporary freedom, ours is to win everlasting liberty. They knew not the outcome of the battle, we do. They have half the world on their side; we have the Creator of the universe on ours. They feared the destruction of the body; we fear the forever destruction of our souls. They had a mere man standing against them, we have a heavenly being. If they traded sides they feared the wrath of America
If one allied soldier took a nap while his comrades fell in battle, wouldn’t we deem him an unworthy and cowardly soldier. And yet what more excuses do we as Christians have sitting idly while there is enemy territory to be taken? Will this d-day anniversary go by as every other; as just another day to live in ease? Or will we remember the men who died for us, and live up to the freedom gained?
