I Can’t See What is Right in Front of Me
“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks?” Ezekiel 34:2 KJV
I remember one of my trips to New York City. As the plane approached, I remember seeing the city as a small dot. Like many cities, New York City has vast suburbs. From the distant sky, it is hard to tell the suburbs from the actual city.
As my plane got closer, I began to see the rivers that divide downtown Manhattan from the other outlying areas. Getting closer still, I began to see the skyscrapers, although they appeared quite tiny.
The closer the plane got to landing, the larger the buildings became. But, it’s not actually until you are riding in the city that you can truly understand just how tall those buildings actually are. As you walk by, you can’t help but notice them disappearing into the sky. It’s almost like you are in a concrete forest where the trees have glass windows instead of leaves.
I remember standing at the base of the Freedom Tower and looking straight up. When you are at the base you cannot see the top of the building. It is so huge, it appears to just morph into the sky.
When the vacation is over, and you have to leave, the reverse happens. Your mind is still having a hard time overcoming the size of those massive structures. Time seems to take care of that though. You see pictures and you remember the visit. But the awesome memories of the huge heights seem to fade away.
Your mind begins to struggle to recall the awe you felt. Back then, you were but a tiny ant and those endless structures seemed like the soles of giant shoes. If they wanted to, they could crush you with little effort. For some reason, though, they seem satisfied by your admiration.
In our history only a few men have had the honor of being called the President of the United States. Despite this fact, there are only a few Americans that can name all the Presidents. The simple fact is, every one of them had to have had some popularity or accomplished something to get in the position to become President.
Sure people now may ask, “What did Millard Fillmore ever do?” “Franklin Pierce? How did he ever become President?” Even some of the Presidents who were popular in their day, like Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge, have, for some reason, lost their spots in people’s memory.
This man was probably one of the most important men in our early history. Ask the average American today to list some facts about him and you will probably be lucky if they even know who he is.
Let’s think back about our founding. For the most part, America was a British territory. Sure, later lands were added that weren’t British, but the founding of this great country, and the style and laws, are deeply rooted in British doctrine. Even our main language, English, is a product acquired from jolly ole England.
As a territory of England, we were, quite honestly, treated as second-class citizens. We didn’t seem to mind that too much because England was a long distance away and there were not that many British soldiers pushing us around.
One day England looked at America. Instead of seeing a child, she saw a cash cow. There might have even been some thoughts that these second class citizens were living better lives than they had back home. The best way they saw to fix this problem was to tax the people.
No one likes taxes, but people get even more upset when those taxes seem unfair or even outrageous. Then if you have very little voice in how those taxes are being spent, well, angry crowds become angry mobs.
America decided they didn’t like this set up and they decided to do something about it. One day a group of guys even decided we didn’t need England at all. A new banner was raised and it was named Freedom.
One of the problems with this new freedom idea was that many people had different views on what this freedom should look like. Finally it was decided that this “new nation” should be set up as thirteen different nations working together, or at least together when they wanted to work together.
The bonding agent of this “new nation” was the Articles of Confederation. Basically, this was states’ rights on steroids. A federal government would listen to the states not the other way around. In addition, the states could pay for it or if they didn’t want to pay for it there was no way to force them to pay up.
So, the heroes of our revolution, and there were many, came from many different opinions on these topics. Truth be told, without the states working together and being forced to fund a central government, the Articles of Confederation would eventually cause the whole freedom thing to collapse.
Heroes like Washington, Jefferson, and Adams would have just wasted their time if the whole thing fell apart. We needed a new brand of heroes to come in and save the day. That’s where this giant, who would one day become President, steps into the picture.
In one of the Bible’s strange twists, there is an entire Book dedicated to Xerxes, the king of Persia. Most people who read this Book don’t even notice the Book is about him. Most of the other characters overshadow him.
How can such a major character get sidelined? Perhaps, the other characters’ stories are much more interesting than his. Without him, none of the other stories can take place, though.
The Jews, in one of their many moments in captivity, form the plot line. In a land where Jews are despised, none stands taller than Haman, as far as wanting their demise, though. If Haman had his wish, not one Jew would be able to breathe. As a high ranking official in Xerxes’ inner circle, Haman plots just that, the complete destruction of the Jews.
But our story opens with King Xerxes. His wife displeases him greatly and he decides to banish her. After a while, Xerxes realizes his wife might not have been so bad after all. He gets very lonely. The officials don’t like the idea of Xerxes getting back with his wife. They like that strong leader who doesn’t put up with much. It works even better because they can manipulate him so he can use his power to strengthen their hands.
So these officials decided to launch a search for all the young, beautiful ladies of the land. They develop a pageant of sorts, and it seems to excite everyone, especially King Xerxes. One of the participants, who would become the winner, will not only get the king as her husband, but she will also get a Bible Book named after her.
This week has been a very rough week. It made me think of my New York City trip. I wanted to remember the big, tall buildings, but my memory could only recall the tiny little buildings in a photo on my phone.
I longed to be at the base of those buildings. The awesomeness that was there, I wanted it so much again. It’s not something you can snap your fingers and make happen. I’m not even sure that if I went back, the old feelings would still be there. I am older and youth, and its spirit, is not something I can reclaim.
It is not a right of mine to claim any pity. Fortune and blessings have overflowed in my lifetime. I am one of only a few people I know, that are my age, that still have both his parents alive.
One of the side effects of living a long life, though, is your body and mind start to wear out. When that happens, to your parents, it can place you in the uncomfortable spot of having to care for them in a way you have never had to before.
I’ve always thought of my parents as one of those big, tall skyscrapers that stretched endlessly into the clouds. It’s almost like they are God’s personal messenger to me. After all, who can seem closer to God than the one who is nearest to Him?
One of the giants who came to save the day in our early history was our nation’s shortest President. James Madison, working with others, would come up with the document we call the Constitution. This gave the federal government a lot more power. Eventually, that federal power would surpass the states’ power.
For his contributions, James Madison earned the nickname: Father of the Constitution.
When Madison became President, those pesky British decided to come back and reclaim their territory. They were going to teach Jimmy Madison and those rebellious Americans a lesson. Madison barely escaped the burning of the White House and most of DC.
Despite the fall of DC, Madison was able to hold the country together and we would rise again. Surely a nation would never forget such a patriot.
Madison would retire to his home in Orange, Virginia. When his eyes closed for the last time, he was buried outside his beloved home, Montpelier. The countryside parcel of land he claimed could now be a fitting final, peaceful resting place for a man who gave so much.
Esther, the prize winning beauty, would have her hand claimed by the king. It is her uncle, Mordecai, who really sets in motion the saving of the Jews.
Mordecai really likes the king but he also recognizes the bad advice his officials are giving him. Once, a group of men plot to kill the king. Mordecai overhears their plans and gets a message to the king. The plot is averted and the king is very grateful.
It seems the king forgot to thank Mordecai for his efforts, that is, until he has trouble falling asleep one night. He has one of his men reading the story of Mordecai’s efforts to him. He asks what was done to thank Mordecai. Looking through their records, they have to tell him, “Nothing.” The king decides to fix that.
About this same time, Haman decided to get rid of all the Jews, including Mordecai. His plan seems to be working. He decides to build a real high hanging stand, like one of those New York skyscrapers. He will have Mordecai hanged from it and Mordecai’s example will forever be destroyed. In addition, no one will dare to cross Haman again.
When the king discovers Haman’s plot, he decides it is Haman, not Mordecai, who should hang way up in the sky. Haman’s example, not Mordecai’s, is forever destroyed and the Jews are saved.
In the last week, I have seen my parents’ need for my help. How did I get here? At the base, looking up, is where I want to be. I don’t want to be at a distance where their towering presence seems like a memory.
One day I was standing at the base looking in awe. Then, like a flash, another day comes and everything looks entirely different.
Too often we look at the world as though it was here to please us. We are uncomfortable when responsibility calls. Responsibility requires us to drop our own self-interest and it causes us to think what is better for the whole.
When responsibility calls we have two choices. We can run and hide or we can step up to the plate and take a swing at the fast ball that comes our way.
Running and hiding can easily be justified. Effort is hard and often unrewarding. It often causes you pain. Some people may get upset with the decisions you make. Headaches abound.
The rewards of responsibility are few. That’s probably why most people choose to run and hide, or only offer advice. No one who has taken responsibility is going to say that it was ever easy. Often it is a thankless job that sees no credit.
So why would anyone ever want to take up the task of responsibility? Plain and simple, it’s not about you. The results of your responsibility touches the lives of others. It makes them, or their situation, better.
There may never be a pat on the back for your efforts. Your struggles may find no shoulders to cry on. No one may ever let you express your frustrations without consequences. You may feel totally alone.
Walking away, giving in, or just giving up may seem like the best solution. The shadows of those tall buildings may make you feel so small. Just remember, your efforts, struggles, and decisions today are the keys to making you a future skyscraper tomorrow. If you decide not to make those decisions, you are just another person standing at the base and always looking up.
You would think a President like James Madison would have quite the monument over his grave. Sadly, upon his death he was buried in an unmarked grave. It took twenty-one years before someone decided to give him proper honor by placing a monument over his grave.
When the decision was made to honor him with a monument over his grave, there was one problem. Since Madison’s grave was unmarked, no one was exactly sure where he was buried. Louise Picone, in his book The President is Dead, states:
“…after 21 years, no one knew exactly where the former president was buried. They dug until they discovered the coffin. When they lifted the rotted boards that covered the casket, they found the coffin lid had shifted out of place, allowing them to peer inside….The workers then sealed the coffin and reburied it.”
Finally, with his resting place secured, a 16-ton, 25-foot-tall obelisk was placed over his grave. It is simply engraved: Madison, Born March 16, Died June 28, 1836. Now maybe one of the giants of our history can rest in peace.
Do you want to know what true love is? True love is forgetting about what you have to gain and being more concerned about what others have to gain. You want someone to have a glow in their eyes, be the bright light that is worth reflecting.
James Madison, Mordecai, and my parents have all shown me not to be too worried about my own well-being. If you live a caring life, you will find a special place in people’s hearts. Their focus on you may dim momentarily, but over time, it will always be treasured by them.
As I think about my parents, I realize God didn’t plant my feet at the bottom base of a tall building to stay there forever. My God gave me a sturdy tall building to show me exactly the type of building he wanted me to become.
Thank you Mom and Dad! I hope one day to become the inspiration you both have been to me.
