Having studied the American Civil War in high school and college, I guess I should have known the answer to this trivia question: What American military leader lived in the Arlington mansion that overlooks the Potomac River with a grand view of Washington D. C.? The answer is: General Robert E. Lee of the Confederacy. Six of the Lees’ seven children were born during the thirty years they lived on the beautiful property that is now the Arlington National Cemetery.
With their Fitbits, Susan and her brother Steve confirmed that we walked between six and eight miles each of our first three days in Washington. I think we walked more in Arlington than any other single location.
Over 300,000 American citizens who served our country’s military are buried in this famous cemetery, including presidents William H. Taft and John F. Kennedy. Though there were thousands of visitors the day we were there, a solemn honor for the dead was observed.
One day in the future, an extraordinary happening will occur in Arlington and all other cemeteries. Preceded by a trumpet sound from above, those who are in Christ will rise from their graves. Can you imagine? These risen lovers of Jesus will then ascend and meet their Lord, followed by all disciples who are still alive on earth. Paul urges us to encourage one another with such words.
“Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.”
I Thessalonians 4:13-18