My heart breaks for the people of Ukraine as innocents including children are being killed by the Russian attack. The resistance of Ukrainians against unprovoked carnage in their country has been an inspiration to freedom loving people around the world.
Last week an unlikely hero emerged. Volodymyr Zelenskyy was a Comedian before he became the President of Ukraine. The world didn’t expect much from him. However, like fire purifies gold, adversity brings out the best in leaders. Last week, a couple of days into the siege on his country, Zelenskyy put out a defiant video on February 25th. In it he says:
“Good evening everyone. Fraction leader is here, head of the presidential office is here, Prime Minister Shmyhal is here, Podoluak (Ukranian Presidential advisor) is here, the President is here. Our troops are here, citizens are here. All of us are protecting the independence of our country, and it will continue to be in this way.”
The video stirred my Texas heart to the core. It has since been compared to a defining event in Texas’ history, The Alamo. Soon after I saw the video, my long-time friend David Peek who is the Rockwall County Treasurer posted a picture on Facebook that captured exactly what I was feeling. It was a picture of Jim Bowie, Davy Crockett and William Travis above a still picture of President Zelenskyy with his inner circle. The caption on the picture above simply said February 1836 and below was February 2022. David had given the greatest honor a Texan can bestow, acknowledging that President Zelenskyy was drawing a line in the sand just like Col. Travis did this very week 186 years ago.
On March 4, 1836 Col. Travis said: “We must die. Our businesses is not to make a fruitless effort to save our lives, but to choose the manner of our death.” Then he drew the famous “line in the sand” and said: “I now want every man who is determined to stay here and die with me to come across this line.” Every man save one French Mercenary crossed the line. Co-Commander Jim Bowie, who was gravely ill and bedridden had men carry his bed across the line.
The defenders of the Alamo gave their lives to give Sam Houston time to muster his army for the fight that was coming. Their sacrifice led to victory for Texas at San Jacinto. In the same way President Zelenskyy and his fellow patriots are biding time but the outcome doesn’t have to be the same as the defenders of the Alamo. As a result of his leadership and bravery, miracles are happening: One of Russia’s obvious objectives is to weaken NATO but the unity and strength of the coalition is stronger than ever. The people of Ukraine are unified and the world is behind them.
Most importantly, freedom loving people around the world are praying for Ukraine and their President.
Last night I attended a special prayer meeting dedicated to Ukraine at our new congregation at Creekside Church of Christ in Greenville. At the meeting I met a man who had not been there in a while but felt the need to attend worship on Sunday evening. He reminded me that evening worship began in a lot of Churches during World War II out of necessity. Factories operated 24/7 and factory workers often had to work on Sunday morning. That gave birth to a second service on Sunday evening and the tradition continues to this day even though Covid has caused a lot of congregations to drop Sunday evening services.
Whether you attend a prayer service or just pray in your bedroom, please pray and pray hard. The world needs a miracle. If you don’t think it can happen, I remind you that we are the product of brave men who put their “lives, fortunes and sacred honor” on the line and defeated the greatest military force in the world to gain our independence.
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