“Let The Stones Cry Out”
Chaplain Kuhlman
Major Charles Kuhlman, United States Army Chaplain for the 1st Brigade Combat Team (BCT), 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and a chaplain with the Church of God, was asked by his Commanding Officer to deliver a prayer at the dedication of a monument in memory of those brave warriors of the 1st BCT.
Late the day before the dedication, Chaplain Kuhlman also discovered that he was to deliver a short devotion. The following is the devotion from the example of Joshua that the Lord gave him, to share for this event.
“I would like to share with you today a short account and illustration of why what we do here today is important… not just for us, but for those who follow us.
There is in history the account of a great general who with some divine intervention took a rag-tag bunch of former slaves, farmers, herders and brickmakers; molded them together into a cohesive team, and proceeded to displace some of the mightest armies of the day to form a new nation and country. At one particular point in their campaign, after a great struggle, the General gave some seemingly odd instructions to his followers. Many of us have read the offical accounting, but in light of our remembrance today, I would like to share with you what COULD have been a Soldier’s version of that day…
“No kidding, there I was… pulling security detail on a bunch of kids with their sheep. We had been up since 2nd watch to “make sure we were all ready” for the river crossing… and there wasn’t even any WATER mind you… well, we got all those kids across the ravine with all their stuff – and didn’t loose a SINGLE sheep thank goodness…, and I had JUST put my pack down… wouldn’t you know it, as SOON as I sat it down a runner came asking for a “high speed representative” of our division. Something about a special detail for the General. Sarge hollered for me, so I grabbed my gear and doubletimed back to the river. Get this now…. and you know I would go to the pits of hades for General J… but he wanted us to HAUL ROCKS. NO, I’m not kidding! And not little ones either, he wanted us to get some BIG WAGON sized rocks, haul them out of the river bed, and make a monument pile with them… wait, it gets better…guess where he wanted them — up near the crossroads! Could it have been near the riverbank? NOOOOOO! We had to haul those rocks for almost SIX MILES up the to crossroads and then pile them up! Yeah, you know we got it done, we would storm hades for him if he decided to look for water in there…but you will never guess what he WANTED with those rocks…of COURSE mine was the biggest one…you gotta hear this… you’ll tell your kids about this one…”
The people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they camped in Gilgal on the east border of Jericho. Those twelve stones, which they had taken out of the Jordan, Joshua set up in Gilgal, saying to the Israelites, ‘When your children ask their parents in time to come, What do these stones mean?’ Then you shall let your children know, “Israel crossed over the Jordan here on dry ground.”
Standing stones have historically marked or commemorated events in the lives of mankind. Sometimes great battles, sometimes great peace treaties, sometimes the lives of great men or women. Some standing stones are small and unobtrusive as a historical marker at the roadside. Others are as unmistakeable and large as the great ideals they represent and can be seen for miles like the Lady Liberty. All of them, no matter where we find them, cause us to ask the question: ‘What happened here?’ And in asking the question, we receive the re-counting of history from the perspective of the teller, and our lives are enriched for the sharing.
Too often we have a tendency to take our freedoms for granted and quickly forget the great cost with which they were purchased. Our freedoms are not free. They have been purchased with the blood of patriots who did not think it too high a price to express the greatest of love and lay down thier lives for thier brother.
Today, we salute these Soldiers. Thier lives, their legacy, their dedication, their service, and their sacrifice. All that they are…we REMEMBER. We will NOT forget! We WILL NOT let them pass silently into the night! We WILL NOT let thier ultimate rendevous with destiny remain in a far off land, as a story untold! Today, for our families, our friends, our children and all who would stop to see… we establish a new monument for our remembrance. Whenever anyone passes by this place, may this stone will serve as a reminder and a catalyst. A reminder that the price paid was someone’s son/daughter, husband/wife, friend and teammate … who gave thier all and they ARE remembered and HONORED. A catalyst to shake us out of our daily apathy and inspire us strive to achieve great things… even if the cost be high….
In days to come as people pass by this place, they will see this stone and stop, read the names, render honor, and perhaps ask the question ’Why is this stone here…. ‘ To which another old Soldier may reply as Soldiers often do… ‘let me share with you, No kidding, there I was…’
To learn more about the Church of God Chaplains Commission chaplaincy programs, visit the Chaplains Commission website at: www.cogchaplains.com.
