It’s hard to see in this picture but a funny thing happened to me tonight.  As those of you who’ve read this blog consistently, you know I lost a good friend in Iraq in 2006.  Since the Summer of 2006 I’ve worn this black band as a sort of tribute to my friend Tim.  Two days ago it disappeared while I was on a run. This morning as I was rushing the boys out the door to make it to church, I looked down in the grass outside our condo and there it was, my missing band!
On the band are written the words, “Freedom isn’t Free.”  It’s a cliche in some respects these days as I’ve seen it on many marketing campaigns and on posters and books and articles.  To those who’ve lost someone close to them in service of our country, those words are more than cliche, they’re a part of our life.  You know the one thing I took away from the 36 hours that I was separated from this band? I don’t need a band to remember “Freedom isn’t Free”… the scar on my heart will do that for me but I’m nonetheless glad it’s back.