July 4, 2019

Patriotic ideas reel around this date in American historical annuls. There were issues of patriotism in the Israel of David’s era as well. Who would the people support? David and be forced to flee Jerusalem? Or Absalom and reign in Jerusalem rebelling against God’s anointed king?

Just like in our day and age, pretty sounding words and decisive actions drew people to Absalom. The people were drawn to king Saul in the same way. Absalom appeared as a kingly figure. Absalom did things to please and sway the people. Underlying those actions was self-aggrandizement going on. Absalom was seeking to better his reputation, influence and power over the state of Israel. He felt he deserved the right to rule. He’d been planning it for a long time (all the way back to when he killed his half-brother, Amnon, to eliminate the competition for the throne).

As we live in America today, we need to be evaluating those that wish to lead our nation. Are they using pretty sounding words? Are they appealing to the vanity of different people groups? What are their true motives? Does their plans really aid our nation as a whole or just certain segments of our society? I realize, as I struggle to get real answers to these questions myself, that it seems impossible to evaluate those in leadership in our country on a national scale. We find ourselves forced into “reading between the lines” and looking for “off-the-record” comments to determine what’s real. I feel powerless to know for certain what is right, although I do have my opinions.

So, I do what I can. I pray – a lot. I learn to apply Scripture to my own actions and try to evaluate whether the behavior of these would-be leaders agree with Scripture’s commands. And, I bring it closer to home. I look at local leaders I can get to know for myself (instead of relying on Facebook or newspapers). I apply the Scriptural commands to their ideas and behaviors. Furthermore, I look at my church leaders. How are they measuring up? And I ask myself, and pray some more, about what I can or should be doing to uphold the principles of God. In my own life, in the life of local leaders, and in the way I vote.

That’s what I’m thinking about on this 4^th of July. This is what I’m praying about on this 4^th of July. I desire to be patriotic, but my heart longs to be right with God.

Memorial Day Thoughts

This past weekend was Memorial Day weekend, as you all know. I hope you spent some time remembering the real reasons for the holiday. I know it’s a great way to start the summer season, plant the garden, enjoy a barbecue, spend time with friends and family, and spend time in the outdoors. However, Memorial Day is more than all of those things. I’m also sure you are getting tired of hearing about it on social media. I’ve also seen the Facebook posts honoring the men and women who have sacrificed for our country and its values. I’ve also noticed the flags flying from businesses, homes, churches, and other governmental and non-governmental buildings. But, when things really get down to what Memorial Day is about, I’m at a loss.

That’s because Memorial Day is for remembering and honoring those who gave their ultimate sacrifice in the name of their country. It’s for remembering those who died in the line of service to the United States of America. I can do this on an intellectual level. However, I have never known anyone personally who has gone to war for our country and died in their efforts to serve to the best of their ability. I know of people who have given their lives in the line of service . . . wait, I know of one person who gave his life in the line of service. I know there are many others. I actually feel guilty that I did not know such heroes.

As I was thinking about this, some “stories” I’ve read or have seen in the movies come to mind. For instance, my dad was a World War II veteran. I’m sure he knew several soldiers who died in the line of service. He probably lost quite a few “friends” on D-Day as they tried to make their way to safety on the beaches. He made it. Many, many others did not. Dad never talked about those comrades in arms. He did not want to be reminded. Yet he remembered every Memorial Day I could remember in my childhood, without failure, by going to ceremonies at cemeteries and gathering with family. But I do not know the names of any of those lost during World War II and so I cannot remember them specifically.

There have been many other lives lost in wars since the one my dad was a part of. My father-in-law was a marine in the Korean War conflict. My husband was told a story about how his dad’s life was spared in one specific situation. My father-in-law’s first wife was divorcing him. He had to go to Seoul to sign some papers. While he was in Seoul, his entire group was wiped out and there were no survivors. He would have had the names of many of those men to remember each Memorial Day.

However, as I said in the beginning, there is one who gave his life that I do remember. He was a young man from Fowlerville, Michigan who served in the Iraq war. He had gone to school in Fowlerville and I vaguely remember him. However, during the battle for Fallujah, he lost his life in service to his country. There is a memorial to him in the cemetery in Fowlerville, and a scholarship given to a graduating Senior from the local high school every year in his name. Not having anyone else to remember by name on Memorial Day, I remember him.

Who do you remember on Memorial Day?

The Right and Privilege

By the time this is actually posted we will know who is the next president of the United States. But I’m writing this on Tuesday, Election Day, so I do not know how my vote counted. The key thing is that it does count. I am reminded of that in several ways today.

First, my daughter has voted for the first time in a Presidential Election. She used an absentee ballot because she is away at college, but it was very important to her to exercise her right to vote. I’m glad she feels that responsibility. It’s a sign she appreciates her country, even though she also has many complaints about the way some things are. She’s taking the responsibility to do what she can to make things go better in her view.

Second, a friend of mine is voting for the first time in a Presidential Election because she is a new citizen of the United States of America. She’s lived here for several years but has not been eligible to vote until this year. She values that opportunity and was probably as excited as my daughter, and, probably for the same reasons. She’s saying she loves the United States and she’s interested in what happens in our government.

Third, I have friends who have been overseas as missionaries for much of the last 20 years. They may have voted absentee ballots in the past, but today they get to vote in person as they are here in the United States. They, too, have a stake in what happens in this election and want to have their say. They, too, will exercise their right and privilege to vote.

Each vote does matter, and what matters the most is that we don’t take it lightly. I cannot imagine not voting today. I’ve voted in every Presidential Election since I was 18 and all but 2 non-presidential elections since then, too. I voted today. I will watch with great interest for the results tonight. But mostly, I hope people exercise their right and privilege as American citizens and will vote.