The bonsai tree in a war museum
For my Labor Day, my friend Craig and I drove from Austin to Fredricksburg, Texas to visit the Nimitz Pacific War Museum. This is definitely a must-see; a museum of equal (or perhaps greater) quality of many in D.C. and around the country. We spent about 4 hours here, and that was cutting the visit short. There was a lot of stuff to see; a biography of Admiral Nimitz himself, a large Memorial courtyard, a museum dedicated to the history of the World War II Pacific Theater and the events leading up to Pearl Harbor, and a guided tour of several bunkers that included equipment (planes, tanks, bunkers, etc.) that was actually used in the war. It was quite the emotional and educational experience.
And in the middle of all of these memorials to war, stands a small garden with a bonsai tree in the middle.
This "Garden of Peace" was given to Admiral Nimitz by the Japanese as a "thank you" for returning to rebuild the war-torn Japan, to reconcile, and bring a lasting peace between our nations. After the ravages of war, many would see revenge for the harm done. But that's not what our generals did... they worked to rebuild our former enemy's nation, and as a result they in return gave them (and us as a nation in a way) a token of their thanks.
It speaks to the character of that generation of leaders. They sought to, when our enemies had surrendered, to give grace to the nation that caused us grief. They worked hard to restore and rebuild. That effort, in turn, was met with a visible sign of gratitude.
It's a good reminder to leaders and people today... that when the battles are done and we've won (or lost) our fights, that our ultimate success is on the quality of our relationships and not in our "being right." Once you have been proven right (assuming you have 😀), what are you doing to restore or reinforce your relationships? Are you giving the people in your world a reason to give you a "bonsai tree?"
It's also a little bit of a reminder to those of us who belong to Christ. Like the Japanese in 1945, we too have given God our unconditional surrender. We too, have let the God - whom while we were in our sin was our enemy - into our lives and allowed Him to rebuild our war-torn souls. We realize that this God of grace and love, whom we fought against, has given us so much love and restoration that we can't believe it!
Our lives are the bonsai tree to the God of grace whom we have surrendered.. are we giving it?
Is it on display pointing back to the grace of the one who rescued us in our surrender? Like this beautiful piece on display, I pray that my gift of gratitude lets you see the rescuer and not the rescued... and that it draws you to be in awe.
And in the middle of all of these memorials to war, stands a small garden with a bonsai tree in the middle.
This "Garden of Peace" was given to Admiral Nimitz by the Japanese as a "thank you" for returning to rebuild the war-torn Japan, to reconcile, and bring a lasting peace between our nations. After the ravages of war, many would see revenge for the harm done. But that's not what our generals did... they worked to rebuild our former enemy's nation, and as a result they in return gave them (and us as a nation in a way) a token of their thanks.
It speaks to the character of that generation of leaders. They sought to, when our enemies had surrendered, to give grace to the nation that caused us grief. They worked hard to restore and rebuild. That effort, in turn, was met with a visible sign of gratitude.
It's a good reminder to leaders and people today... that when the battles are done and we've won (or lost) our fights, that our ultimate success is on the quality of our relationships and not in our "being right." Once you have been proven right (assuming you have 😀), what are you doing to restore or reinforce your relationships? Are you giving the people in your world a reason to give you a "bonsai tree?"
It's also a little bit of a reminder to those of us who belong to Christ. Like the Japanese in 1945, we too have given God our unconditional surrender. We too, have let the God - whom while we were in our sin was our enemy - into our lives and allowed Him to rebuild our war-torn souls. We realize that this God of grace and love, whom we fought against, has given us so much love and restoration that we can't believe it!
Our lives are the bonsai tree to the God of grace whom we have surrendered.. are we giving it?
Is it on display pointing back to the grace of the one who rescued us in our surrender? Like this beautiful piece on display, I pray that my gift of gratitude lets you see the rescuer and not the rescued... and that it draws you to be in awe.
Comments