REMEMBER WHEN . . .
"History is a ribbon, always unfurling. History is a journey. And as we continue our journey, we think of those who traveled before us ... and we see and hear again the echoes of our past: a general falls to his knees in the hard snow of Valley Forge; a lonely president paces the darkened halls and ponders his struggle to preserve the Union; the men of the Alamo call out encouragement to each other; a settler pushes west and sings a song, and the song echoes out forever and fills the unknowing air. It is the American sound. It is hopeful, big-hearted, idealistic, daring, decent, and fair. That's our heritage, that's our song. We sing it still. For all our problems, our differences, we are together as of old. We raise our voices to the God who is the author of this most tender music. And may He continue to hold us close, as we fill the world with our sound --- in unity, affection, and love -- one people under God, dedicated to the dream of freedom that He has placed in the human heart, called upon now to pass that dream on to a waiting and hopeful world."
-President Ronald Reagan
Remember when ....
these words were spoken by a great and wise leader
of our nation?
Remember when ....
our cry was for freedom for all mankind,
as we strove under God
to create a nation of justice?
Remember when ....
the song of our heart was welcoming to others,
rather than the selfish hum of discontent from idle drifters?
Remember when ....
we would listen to wise words and rise to their creed,
rather than fall to the tyranny of the deceitful?
Remember when ....
we worked together not for the sake of unity, itself
and the rope of socialism about our necks,
but because we valued hard work and ingenuity,
clever design and wise thought?
Remember when ....
it was a sign of honor to fall upon our knees
in humility
to pray to God, as President Reagan did quite often
in the Oval Office accompanied by guests?
Remember when ....
we were not a country who was self, first,
but could look beyond ourselves because
we had been so blessed
to be governed by a God-fearing leader?
Remember when ....
will become harder to do in the coming days
for the contrast will be so dividing
and the results of our quest,
now, confusing.
Remember when ....
while you still can and ask the God of the Heavens,
the Holy One of Israel
to intervene and bring this entire country
to its knees in humility and repentance
so that we may once more
be a great nation under God.
Remember when ....
grace came easily
and our hearts were still able to be molded
by the One who created us.
But, as we kill those in the womb, with no thought
of the Heart of the Father who created them,
loved them and sent His Son to die for them,
we become hardened to all forms
of repentance and acceptance before God.
Remember when ....
and then take time to read Psalm 51
and CRY OUT for God
to do whatever it takes to render us,
once more,
"One nation, under God, indivisible"
with TRUTH, JUSTICE and HONOR
as the foundation of our rule.
February 11, 2009
