A Nation of Many Flags
I do a lot of traveling with my job. Some roads have few travelers. On other roads you are surrounded. One of the few things you have to do with your time, while you are driving so much, other than paying attention to the driving, is people watching. It is simply amazing the things you notice when you drive. Putting on makeup, shaving, texting, using a laptop, and a host of other things are just part of the routine many drivers do when they should be paying more attention to the road. But it is the people, themselves that brings out the most interest in me.
When you drive down some roads there are more males than females. Other roads there are more females than males. Some roads, especially around dumps, are more populated with older people. Different times of the day also bring out different types of people, too.
Bumper stickers also bring out some hints as to the person’s personality or interest. Some bumper stickers are serious, some are funny, some are political, and some don’t make any sense at all. Music is also something you witness in some individuals. The girl with the windows closed singings as loud as she can, like the cars in front of her are her audience. Or the rude guy with all his windows open and his music so loud all you can hear is the bass and the bad words. Don’t you just want to roll down you window sometimes and said, “I really want to thank you for sharing the disgusting music with me.”
I guess one of the most disturbing things to me is how many cars I see with national flags (not American flags) hanging from their rear view mirror. A country that has provided them with so much, like the money to pay for that flag they are hanging, does not deserve second place in their loyalty. I understand that people are proud of where they come from, but our very existence is being challenged by divided loyalties.
I was watching one of those political talk shows recently. The Supreme Court had just legalized gay marriage that week. One of the members on the panel was proudly proclaiming his excitement at the White House being covered that night in rainbow colors. An African-American member of the panel chimed in, “I’ll just be glad when the White House is covered in green, yellow and black lights.” My heart is broken that no one is thinking about covering it in red, white and blue lights. My fear is that we are becoming a nation of personal causes rather than a nation trying to make each other better. We have this drive that believes only our opinion or belief is right. Democracy works because we are granted the freedoms to express our beliefs without the fear of persecution. When any one side dominates, we all lose.
It is probably one of the most historical documents ever written. Yet it is actually an angry letter that expresses feelings of abuse to a man with much power. There are at least eighteen reasons given for those feelings. One of those reasons has nine “proofs” on display. There were actually many people who were upset with this person and they picked five of their best writers to express their feelings that left no doubt about their anger.
The Committee of Five: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston, were chosen to voice their displeasure with Great Britain’s king, King George III. The “letter” starts out with who it is from (Congress) and is dated (July 4, 1776). Then it explains it is a unanimous decision, not of the thirteen colonies, but of the thirteen United States of America. This “letter” is better known as the Declaration of Independence, although it is never actually referred to as that in the document. King George III was probably really upset by the message and I’m sure nothing would have made him happier that to dispose of any of those who signed the letter. Top on his list was probably the five who actually wrote the letter.
So, would these brave patriots have the same courage if they were face to face with the king? Would they have any more success convincing the King of his errors? After all, they were actually British subjects and were only asking for a little more respect. Would they melt in the presence of their king?
He was very excited. He had some questions and the teacher was right there in front of him. The teacher was very popular and sometimes it was hard to get close to him. Usually there was pushing and shoving. Most of the time there were really long lines with requests or questions. Some just wanted to see him in person. But today was his lucky day. There the teacher was, right in front of him without any obstructions in the way.
He probably heard one of his lessons and wanted to know more. Then came the question, “Teacher, what must I do to have eternal life?” Any Bible teacher should know the answer to that. The young student was ready for every possible answer to the question. He obeyed the Scriptures. He loved everyone. Boy was he going to look good as the requirements were listed one by one and he could verbally check it off his list with an, “I’m already doing that.”
It is never good to be too cocky with Jesus, as this student soon found out. Jesus finally said, “Sell what you have and give it to the poor.” “What? Are you crazy?” must have been his thought. He couldn’t do it and he lowered his head and left. Jesus probably said, “It’s easy to think you are standing up for something, but when you face the King are your nerves still there? Are you willing to prove your allegiance to your real cause?”
The Revolutionary War was finally over. It was time to negotiate the peace terms. Great Britain was still a little concerned with us getting too close to France. They hated the French. Who could we send to negotiate this peace? I have an idea. Let’s send one of those five guys who helped write the Declaration of Independence. And that is exactly what they did. The audience with the king was set. Our writing diplomat was to meet the very king he condemned. As the conversation continued, King George III, smiling, said to John Adams, “There is an opinion among some people that you are not the most attached of all your countrymen to the manners of France.” To which John Adams replied, “I must avow to your Majesty, I have no attachment but to my own country.”
We can look around and see many reasons to be upset with our country. It is pretty obvious that we don’t get along very well with each other. Who’s to blame? The most common answer is the other guy.
Maybe we should be waving the red, white and blue more. Maybe it’s not just atop a flag pole it should wave, but in our hearts and in our lives. Maybe the same can be said of the cross.
Prayer: Dear Mighty Father, Thank You for this great land You have given us. Please let us be more concerned for our brothers and sisters, our fellow citizens. Please let a pride return to our hearts for our nation and for You. Amen.
