QUARANTINE BLOG # 283

January 7, 2021

Today we visit Родина-мать зовёт! – “The Motherland Calls.”  It is the center of a monument to the “Heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad” on a hill called Мамаев курган, Mamayev Kyrgon, in Volgograd, Russia.  In 1967, when it was completed after 8 years of construction, it was the tallest statue in the world.  At 279 feet, it is the tallest statue in Europe and the tallest statue (excluding pedestals) of a woman in the world.  I was privileged to see her in 1993.

The statue is an allegorical image of the Rodina, the Motherland, which calls on her sons and daughters to repulse the enemy and return to the attack.  She poses with a sword raised high in the right hand and the left hand extended in a calling gesture.

The eternal flame. The names of fallen Soviet soldiers are written on 34 panels which line the walls.

Two hundred steps, symbolizing the 200 days of the Battle of Stalingrad, lead from the bottom of the hill to the monument.  On June 23, 1993, when I started walking up those steps, I bought a rose from a flower seller and laid it by the eternal flame.  In the Hall of Soldier’s Glory a large book lies open where visitors can write their comments.  I don’t remember what I wrote, but one Russian visitor said, “God, keep the peace!”

Along the 200 steps, a sculpture commemorating the battle.

In the Battle of Stalingrad (August 23, 1942 – February 2, 1943), Germany and its allies fought the Soviet Union for control of the city of Stalingrad (now Volgograd) in Southern Russia.  Marked by fierce close-quarters combat and direct assaults on civilians in air raids, it is one of the bloodiest battles in the history of warfare, with an estimated 2 million total casualties.  Stalingrad has been described as the biggest defeat in the history of the German Army.  It is often identified as the turning point on the Eastern Front, in the war against Germany overall, and in the entire Second World War.

The center of Stalingrad. The building on the right remains today as it was in 1943, as a memorial.

👉  In April and May, 2014, Jeopardy! aired a 5 week tournament, “Battle of the Decades,” with contestants from the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s competing for $1,000,000.  Brad Rutter won his unprecedented 4th Jeopardy! tournament, defeating Ken Jennings and Roger Craig.  This clip features Ken Jennings taking on Tom Cubbage and Rachael Schwartz, and the category, “Initials to Roman Numerals to Numbers.”  Ken gives the answers before I can digest the question and come up with the name of the person referenced.

👉  From another game show, The Price Is Right, Bob Barker has fun with a contestant who bid $999 on a prize when another contestant had already bid $1000.

👉  Here is a collection of signs:

👉  Is this one funny, or an indication that animals are smarter than some people?

👉  Today’s close, “A Mathful God?” is by Shawn McEvoy.

God doesn’t count us; he calls us by name. Arithmetic is not his focus (Romans 9:28 – The Message).

Thank God that he calls us by name, that our names have been written in the Book of Life.  He knows us intimately.  We are not just numbers to him, as the verse above reminds.

That said, have you ever looked at the face of a calculator and marveled at how completely God is involved in all of those functions?  He adds, he subtracts, he multiplies, he divides.

Let’s take a look at some examples of the most basic of these functions, and how they suggest a perfect sum of completeness and trust.  He’s worked it all out.  The numbers add up.  The whole world – its time and history and future – is well calculated, and safe in his hands.

Addition: Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved (Acts 2:46-47 – NAS).

Subtraction: The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29 – NAS).

Multiplication: Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness (2 Corinthians 9:10 – NAS).

Division: And the people of all the nations will be gathered before him. Then he will divide them into two groups, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats  (Matthew 25:32 – GNT).

God is in the business of division.  As in creation, he divided whatever was necessary in order to bring order.  He divides light and darkness today also.  That is why his people are in this world but not of  it. God’s children are separated from the world as they are sanctified, or set apart, for the things of God.

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