Today I met a man on the street near my office who was wearing a “Navy Veteran” hat, and I said, “Thank you for your service to our country!” That led to a 20-minute conversation which I will never forget. He told me of his service in Viet Nam, being treated rudely upon his return to America, and one amazing story of his encounter with British Royalty.
When he was given a high honor by our President, according to him a much greater honor awaited him after the White House ceremony. He was introduced to Lord Louis Mountbatten, the British Naval War hero who had been appointed Admiral of the Fleet of the Royal British Navy and was also a member of the Royal Family. Lord Mountbatten asked my new friend if he could read the award he had just received. He took off his gloves to hold the certificate and as he reached for it he suffered a paper cut! To my friend’s horror, a drop of Lord Mountbatten’s blood from his cut finger spilled onto the award and he began profusely apologizing.
My friend smiled widely as he continued. “I told Lord Mountbatten, no apology needed sir! I am honored to have your blood marking my award! It makes it more special.” You know where this is going, right? His Blood Is On My Award is what he said, softly two or three times, with a wistful look on his face. Me: That’s amazing! Do you still have the award? He: “Of course, it is in a frame hanging on my living room wall.
When we Christians think about our potential “award,” it is the blood of Jesus from his sacrificial death on the cross which gives us hope for eternal life after death. I think of the cross Jesus died on and the blood spilled on that cross – His Blood Is On My Award!
Just as my new friend felt his award had been made much more special now with the blood of Lord Mountbatten on it, we look at that wooden cross which likely had been used to kill thousands of criminals in the past and more in the future, and we too can say His Blood Is On My Award! Two ordinary simple pieces of wood with nail holes in them – but unlike all other crucifixion wooden pieces, these two had drops of blood from the Son of God.
I think if Merton had heard the story I heard today about Lord Mountbatten’s blood, he likely would have also smiled a huge smile and said something like this, “What an honor for you, sir, to have Lord Mountbatten’s blood on your award!” And what an honor for us Christ-followers, to be able to say with joy in our hearts His Blood Is On My Award!
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The Merton Prayer 