I still get goose bumps every time I remember that warm summer day in the White House Rose Garden. I was privileged to represent the Virginia FFA Association at the State Presidents’ Conference in Washington, DC and what an incredible week it was. We met with our Representatives and Senators, toured all the historic sites, enjoyed scrumptious meals, and participated in high level leadership training.
But that particular day we visited the White House in our black pants, white shirts, and embroidered blue corduroy jackets. President Reagan was still recovering from John Hinckley Jr.’s assassination attempt five months earlier so he was not scheduled to speak to our group that day. In his stead, Vice President George H. W. Bush, to whom I would later present the Honorary American FFA Degree, spoke to us about the importance of Agriculture to America. It was very exciting.
After this highlight of the week we were dismissed to our busses. As we turned to leave, however, someone said, “Here he comes!” Sure enough, one of the members of the Texas FFA delegation had waved at him through the Oval Office window and a short while later President Reagan strolled out to the podium to present an impromptu address to all of us gathered there. I was maybe 20 feet from one of the most influential leaders of the twentieth century. I will never forget that day.
Later in his presidency, President Reagan was standing in West Berlin across the Wall from the Brandenburg Gate, which I also got to visit during my year as State FFA President. But when the US President stood there five years after me, he challenged The General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, to “Tear down this wall!”
Although his advisors had told him not to include this line in his speech because of its provocative nature, the US President showed true courage, resolve and leadership to say what needed to be said. As a result, two years later, I watched in disbelief and thanksgiving as that wall was methodically dismantled. I’m thankful to have a piece of it on my office shelf to this day.
As I’ve reflected on those momentous events of the 1980s and how they changed the world, I was reminded of walls in our own lives that may be hindering us in our relationship with Jesus. Walls of disbelief and disobedience certainly loom high and large between us and the Savior and prevent us from experiencing His full and complete presence in our lives.
Jesus’ love is like a huge reservoir of fresh water backed up behind the enormous dam of our sin with only a trickle flowing here and there through occasional cracks. The brief tastes of His mercy and grace that we do experience make us thirsty for more. Tragically, like the Berliners of the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, we seem powerless to remove the barrier.
In the words of our fortieth president, “Tear down this wall!” Although we can’t do it in our own strength, we can and should ask Jesus to bring the dynamite power of His shed blood to blow to smithereens all vestiges of our sin, shame, and doubt. He’s just waiting on the other side to let His healing waters of blessing roll. Like many of the communists in the 1980s, we think it will lead to our demise not realizing that He has something infinitely better in store for us.
In addition, we often allow walls of unforgiveness and bitterness to separate us from others. How refreshing and blessed it is to invite Jesus to help us demolish those walls as well to allow the love, forgiveness, and healing to flow freely.
As we remember the fall of the Berlin Wall, may it inspire us to tear down whatever walls in our own lives need to be demolished. Blessings, George