Memorial Day thoughts

This Memorial Day I’ve been thinking about a song by Twila Paris that I’ve liked for a long time— “What Did He Die For?” It’s a nice juxtaposition of the literal and spiritual meanings of truths like “freedom” and “sacrifice.” I’m posting a video of the song here, and the lyrics to the song are replicated below.

What Did He Die For

He was twenty-one in 1944.
He was hope, and he was courage on a lonely shore,
sent there by a mother with love beyond her tears,
just a young American who chose to rise above his fears.

And as I watch him struggle up that hill
without a thought of turning back,
I cannot help but wonder:

What did he die for, when he died for you and me?
made the sacrifice so that we could all be free—
I believe we will answer each to heaven
for the way we spend a priceless liberty.
Look inside and ask the question, What did he die for—
when he died for me?

To the darkest day in A.D. 33
came the mercy and compassion of eternity—
sent there by a Father with love beyond His tears,
Blameless One, the only Son
to bear the guilt of all these years.

And as I watch Him struggle up that hill
without a thought of turning back,
I cannot help but wonder:

What did He die for when He died for you and me?
made the sacrifice so that we could all be free—
I believe we will answer each to heaven
for the way we spend a priceless liberty.
Look inside and ask the question—What did He die for?

He died for freedom.
He died for love.
And all the things we do to pay Him back could never be enough.

What did He die for when He died for you and me?
made the sacrifice so that we could all be free—
I believe we will answer each to heaven
for the way we spend a priceless liberty.
Look inside and ask the question—What did He die for
when He died for me?

The question Twila Paris asks in this song—What did He die for?—leads me to examine my own life. What would I die for? What am I living for? How am I spending this “priceless liberty”?

Have you ever asked yourself these questions?