Independence Day 2005

July 4th has come and gone, and I reflect upon the holiday with mixed feelings. On the one hand, I continue to be moved by thoughts of what exactly the founders of this great nation were placing at stake when they signed the Declaration of Independence way back in 1776. On the other hand, though, I am saddened by lack of dedication of that caliber, myself included, in the present day. This is especially poignant when I think about how little is apparently being done about that horrible Supreme Court legislation edict decree decision regarding eminent domain as it relates to private parties [see the previous post for the story].

It is my fervent hope and prayer that we never have to get to the point of armed rebellion in this land. I wish nothing more than to be able to reach a peaceful resolution to this. However, when you have judicial tyranny of this sort, you begin to wonder about the futility of it all. Yet even as those thoughts creep in, I can almost hear the voices of Jefferson, Paine, Henry, Franklin, et al., and their condemnation of my weak resolve. These men and countless others put it all on the line to escape tyranny and put in place this Grand Experiment in Democracy known as the United States of America.

So, even as my heart is broken by the apathy apparent in myself and my fellow countrymen, it is also comforted by the fact that we as Americans have come through bad times, even bloody times, and have become a stronger Union for it. Even more important, I can rest in the knowledge that God is ultimately in control. As the old hymn goes, "whate'er my God ordains is right."

Now if I could only begin to live my life as if I truly and believed what I just wrote...