July 4th!

Today is July 4th. I am an American. I celebrate July 4th. I am privileged to live here and partake of the many good things that have come about because of freedom in this country.

Centuries ago, in other lands our ancestors were persecuted for their faith in God – Jesus to be more specific. After lots of suffering, pain and loss, they came up with a plan, an idea to have their own land where they could worship God, live before Him, do their own work. own their own property and raise a family as they saw best – not as others tried to force them to. 

As a result, America was formed. The governance was well thought out by intelligent men who disagreed with each other, but their goal was the same. Provide a country ruled by the laws of the people, not by a king. This unique form of government is a republic – just (fair, honest) laws drafted by good men for the good of all. This was not a democracy where majority ruled, this was a set of principles where if you were the only one right, you could maintain your freedom and be safe. No majority rule could overpower that right. (Might help here to reread your Bill of Rights).

There will always be people clamoring for their truth, trying to force you into theirs, but not so in America. Each here has the freedom to live and express himself as a valuable person provided it is done within the confines of the law which takes into account the freedom of others and good of all.

The God and His laws which our country’s laws are patterned after is for our good. We need to continually keep our focus on how good God is, how He gave us this good land, kept us safe from others who’d try to do us harm. He is the true light who will overcome the darkness so we can live in freedom, light and truth with each other. 

“Our father’s God, to thee, Author of liberty, to thee we sing; Long may our land be bright, with freedom’s holy light, protect us by Thy might, Great God our King.” 4th verse of ‘My Country Tis of Thee’ by Samuel Francis Smith (1832)

Do Not Despise the Past

Do not despise the past, your past or any past!

Without the past there would be no present and certainly no future!

Many, many things in the past have been upsetting, grievous or seemingly unfair. Many have been downright awful or even evil. But it happened and it cannot be eradicated. Burning and destroying things and people and people’s reputations will not compensate for what happened in the past. We must decide to learn from it and create or recreate a better today and tomorrow. And it starts with us on an individual basis.

Here again comes the phrase, ‘overcome evil with good’. This is how individuals on a personal level can begin. We must become builders of good – behavior, morals, conduct, charity, relationships, ideas of how to improve our landscape whether on the home front or at work or down the street, in our local government etc. etc. etc.

As we become bearers of truth – shining light on what is good and wholesome (what does that word mean?) we will shine light on the dark ways, see them for what they were, learn from them and continue building from the past the way to a better future.

Shore Yourself Up!

Don’t leave yourself adrift in the wrangling waves of other passing ships.

Set down your anchor so you’re not cast around by their wake.

‘Once again lady, I don’t even know what you’re talking about!’

OK. Here it is. Stay tied, docked to the truth – to what you know to be true, and become immovable! Don’t let all the lapping waves of other’s tongues cause you to change your mind and follow an aimless path out to sea where there’s no focus, no left, right, up or down!

This world – our world, your world, my world, needs strong, stable (anchored) individuals to hold things steady for smaller vessels floating around unsure where to land and anchor.

Can we each firm ourselves up in what we know to be true and yet be open to see where we may have believed someone else’s falsehoods?

It takes effort – but work to shore yourself up in the harbor of truth so passing ships will not pull you off course.