CLARA'S BEST
SEE THERE; I TOLD YOU
PEACE ON EARTH, & A MORE PERFECT UNION
Those of us who are blessed to achieve a hoary, old age, almost without exception, have one thing in common. Eventually, we enjoy a nagging cough, a hitch in our get along, or an unidentifiable ailment of some kind, which leads us to lament, although we can’t quite put our finger on it, something is not right. Of course, we old hypochondriacs are all proven right in the end. Eventually, we all die, and we’re able to say, with a good deal of self-satisfaction, see there, I told you!
Assuming I’ve learned anything of interest while achieving this remarkable benchmark, I’ll share a few thoughts on living a satisfying life. As a person of faith, I’m not accountable for each action’s ultimate consequences. My conscience is clear when I’ve done what’s just and merciful. Justice can be illusive, but the path of mercy is almost always clear. Follow your heart; be compassionate and forgiving. We’re not responsible for each day’s ultimate outcome. We’re simply encouraged to do what's right, regardless of the consequences. I’ve been following Christ, with varying degrees of success, for a long time. During that time, I’ve sent up all variety of prayers. In my experience, if you pray to receive a blessing, the results may be discouraging, but if you pray for opportunities to be a blessing, you’re rarely disappointed.
The first step in curing hatred and ignorance is unconditional compassion for those they infect. Loving my enemies is a formidable challenge, but one I can accept. Loving the enemies of Truth and Justice is well beyond my means.
The American Dream is a vision and a goal which began to materialize when our forefathers first set foot on the shores of this remarkable country. It’s alive and well today in the hearts of many. Today as always, its ideals are a challenge. It’s a belief that people of every conceivable faith, origin, and ethnicity can join together and find peace, acceptance, common purpose, and strength through that diversity, and in so doing form a government of, by, and for a people, unified by their diverse faiths and their mutual pursuit of liberty and justice for all.
It’s dedicated to the proposition that all people are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, and that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Many have dedicated their lives to this proposition. It’s a proposition that a person could proudly die for. It’s the dream of a society where each and every individual has the right and the responsibility to pursue and participate in policies and practices which assure fair and equitable treatment of all their fellow citizens; a vision of an entire country where devoted citizens appreciate their own liberty, uphold and defend the liberty of others, and dedicate themselves to the great and noble task before us, that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
Due to all variety of fears, discontent, and disenfranchisement, our country today is a tinderbox just waiting for a spark. Don’t be that spark. Don’t be one more tear in our nation’s fraying fabric. Be one more stitch. Be the thread that binds a tattered seam. Be the hope, faith, and charity that down through the ages have bolstered freedom and advanced American ideals. Honor our veterans. Be worthy of their sacrifice. Cherish your liberty and keep America strong.
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