I saw a new maddening bumper sticker the other day. "LOVE THEM, DON'T LOG THEM." If it had audio, I'm sure it would have had the medicated mellowness of an NPR host. I wonder where the owner of the car lays her weary head at the end of each day.
I'm trying to think of an appropriate way to celebrate Independence Day. Hot dogs, beers, music, and pool time just don't seem to be the way I should spend my time while men and women are sacrificing, sometimes to the fullest extent, their lives trying to spread some measure of the same independence we inevitably take for granted. And we do take it for granted. How can we not? After all, it has been granted to us from on High through the blood, sweat, tears, and courage of countless Americans for generations. No flag-burning, war-protesting, free-loving, bumper sticker-sticking, petition-signing, or ten commandments-fearing has ever saved the life or freedom of anyone, ever. These self-serving endeavors stand in stark contrast to the self-sacrifice that has distinguished this nation from most others in the world today.
As stories of the birth of the nation abound during the week, I am struck by the obvious hand of Providence in the events that brought America into existence. Each of the founding fathers brought to the table abilities in thought, communication, philosophy, and submission to the greater cause than almost any one of today's professional politicians.
Our freedoms were built on the foundation of that blood, sweat, tears, courage, and, yes, bullets, shells, and bombs of those who were willing to die for the cause of my freedom -- and yours. In response to the other sticker on the bumper I opened this post with: Sometimes, because we live in an imperfect world; sometimes, because this world is littered with imperfect people; sometimes, because this world is the playground of Satan and not the physical Kingdom of Heaven; sometimes, my dear, war is the answer. And I believe I'll be thanking God this weekend for the war so long ago that allowed this great nation to exist. For, without war, it wouldn't.
