Recently I hosted a small dinner for some friends and neighbors who assisted me when a pipe burst in some rare below-freezing temperatures and flooded my downstairs studio apartment at midnight. What fun. To repay the kindness I made a nice batch of Chicken Marsala for my Early Response Team.
It was the first chance for my neighbor to view the Hearts again, after almost 9 months of passing each other in the driveways. As she looked at all of the series, she commented – “Gee you need a purple heart!” I’m never quite sure how to respond when people make these comments. Of course my first reaction is to feel a bit hurt, that somehow my vision has been incomplete and I’ve omitted something very important (Mr. Critic/Editor jabs me). So I usually say “hmmm, I’ll have to think on that one…” But in this case, afterwards I did think on it. My first response was to think of Barney the big purple dinosaur. Goofy. Then I thought of the Purple People Eater novelty song. Goofy. Then I thought of the Purple Heart Medal. And did a little research.
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed, while serving with the U.S. military. The original Purple Heart, designated as the Badge of Military Merit, was established by George Washington—then the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, in 1782. I learned that there are several auxiliary organization that provide support and assistance to those wounded in battles and to surviving families of those killed in battle.
As I pondered all of this, I thought “My neighbor is a genius! This is a very fitting addition to the Heart series, as it could symbolize all of those who are wounded in action in the battles of life.” Which is pretty much all of us. Then I thought about how Jesus entered into this life willingly as a volunteer enlistee, and suffered wounds and death on our behalf while fighting to free our human hearts. So I excitedly called my neighbor to thank her for her deep, thoughtful and perceptive suggestion. She hesitated, and then confessed that she didn’t know or think of any of that, but she just thought that purple would be a pretty addition to my array of color hues.The Muses work in mysterious ways.
Order of the Purple Heart
The purple rain infused with pain
Veils weeping battle wounds sustained,
Though not on distant lands or shores
‘Midst mighty armies in foreign wars
No, the injuries most oft inflicted
Come by those we’ve least predicted,
Those close to home and near to heart
Whose weapons pierce and tear apart.
Then we in turn cast our own spears
To guard our forts and ease our fears
At those we claim to care about
Yet maim without a second thought.
This badge conveys no blame or shame
But represents our common claim
That being human and suffering loss
means taking up our daily cross.
The risks we bear in feeling love
Enjoins us all to One Above
Who entered into earth’s sad mourning,
experienced our broken yearning
To save us from our own rebellion
and share his Purple Heart medallion.
He leads the ranks of walking wounded
onward towards our great reunion
With all we love who’ve gone ahead,
He’ll raise the banner o’er our heads
And welcome us with truth and grace
Into his light and warm embrace
He’ll purify the purple rain
And wipe away our shame and pain
He’ll honor each for their own part
in His Order of the Purple Heart.