June 6 is the anniversary of D-Day, the day in 1944  (seventy-five years ago as of this writing) that 160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50 mile stretch of French beach held by the Nazis. More than 9,000 Allied soldiers were killed or wounded, but that day changed the course of the war, and of the world. History shows us that it was on that day that the war was won.

Although it was not until May 8, 1945, 11 months later, that the European front ended, and September 2 of that same year that Japan surrendered in the Pacific, both sides knew and began to act differently after June 6. The Allies began to plan and act as though they had won, and the Axis powers began to figure out how to best get out when defeated.

There were a lot of important battles between those dates, and a lot of pain and grief from them, but the war was won on June 6.

I think of the cross and Good Friday that way. The war against evil and pain and death was won on that day. When Christ said “It is finished,” the old kingdom was defeated and the new one, God’s kingdom of peace, justice, love was breaking in. Between Good Friday and the fulfillment of the kingdom of God, there are a lot of important battles, a lot of pain and grief, but we can (and should) live as though the victory has been won.

I have been watching the results of United Methodist Annual Conference meetings across the country, including my own beloved SC Annual Conference. I see something new taking place as people are electing folks to be delegates to General Conference. I see a new wind blowing, dare I say a Pentecostal wind, something of the Holy Spirit, through our gatherings. We are electing delegates who want to make the church open to all of God’s children, who want to see a revival of the warm-heart and willing hands faith in Jesus. I am seeing people repent of our exclusiveness, and pray, work, and celebrate a new kind of church.

What I see are lots of “little D-Days.” The war is not over, will not be for a while. And there will be lots of important battles to be won, and (unfortunately) there will be pain and grief.

But I am ready to live in a new way, the way of Christ. For he has removed all the dividing lines between us, and his victory is sure.

I am grateful for those who stormed the beaches 75 years ago. We owe them a debt we cannot repay. And I am grateful for those who are storming the fronts of exclusivity. Because of God’s Spirit working in you, the war may not be over, but it is won.