"As kingfishers catch fire, dragonflies draw flame; / [ . . . ] Each mortal thing does one thing and the same: / Deals out that being indoors each one dwells; / Selves -- goes itself; 'myself' it speaks and spells, / Crying 'What I do is me; for that I came'." --Gerard Manley Hopkins

03 July 2008

God Bless the USA

I'm too tired to write anything profound today, but I do want to note that I'm deeply grateful to live in America. Believe me, I am aware of our faults as much as anyone. But there's no place better that I know of, no place I could love as well. I have been challenged by the best of the values our country holds as ideals, and I stand humbled before those like my grandfather, my father, my son who have given of their service so we can remain free to pursue those ideals. May we return to God, and to the many in every walk of life who make our freedom possible, the honor of using it for the sake of unselfish righteousness.

1 comment:

Megan S. said...

Amen. Last night I had the privilege of talking with a veteran several years older than myself. He was modest, yet I could hear through his words the loyalty and unselfish bravery that motivated him to serve for years wherever he was needed---even when he "[saw combat] every day" in Iraq and Afghanistan. His simple affirmation that he would do it all over again gave me renewed hope for my generation.

Followers