I tried to gather my thoughts together, wishing to come up with a topic to blog about.
I have to admit I had one post I had previously started, knowing my turn to blog was fast approaching. However, as I tried to finish it, nothing really came out sounding the way I wanted it to.
Instead, my mind kept wandering to other thoughts. That is, that so many of my dearest friends, or their families, and even members within my own family are facing many difficult challenges at this time.
While each and every one of us hold each other in our thoughts and prayers, often times I feel so limited with my words to offer comfort and support.
So, I went searching. It was fairly easy thanks to modern day technology (the internet) and that great Church site we have – lds.org. I found a message from Elder Jeffery R. Holland entitled, Good Things to Come.
When I listened to this wonderful message, it made me smile, it touched my heart, and it gave me a sense of renewed hope. I found strength and comfort. It was a gentle reminder, and one I needed to hear at the moment.
To all my friends and loved ones who are facing their own set of challenges, I hope you know how much I love you and that I care. It is my hope that Elder Holland’s message uplifts you the same way that it did for me.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Reveling in Revision
One of the aspects of writing that I surprisingly enjoy is revision mode. I find it interesting how many items I catch when I go through a manuscript with fresh eyes, especially after a space of time. Things that I missed before stand out like a sore thumb. Sentences are strengthened, tightened, and often deleted. Missing words are added. Paragraphs and scenes are plumped out or stretched. Sometimes when extensive editing is required it can be a painful experience. Many times a favorite scene is cut in the best interest of the storyline. But it has been my experience that extensive polishing always makes for a better book down the road.
I suspect there is an analogy in this process for life. We start out fresh, new, inexperienced. It takes years to polish, mold, and tighten our characters. Some traits need to be deleted. Other areas of our lives need a bit of stretching. Enduring the Refiner's Fire is often a painful ordeal, but in the end, we are better for all that we experience. Every stage of life is a new opportunity for growth, learning, and refining. And when it's all said and done, when all of the "revisions" have taken place, we will hopefully be what our Father intended in the beginning.
Music - the Muse
by Anna Jones Buttimore
It's the 25th Anniversary of Live Aid today, and I remember it well. In 1985 a friend persuaded me that if I was going to watch any of it, Queen were the band I shouldn't miss. So (because my parents hate any non-classical music) I went upstairs to my parents' bedroom and watched it on the little portable TV in their room, lying on my stomach across their bed.
I was blown away, stunned by just how good rock music could be. And from that moment I was a Queen fan. I joined their fan club (I finally neglected to renew my membership 20 years later) and went to the local Woolworth's to buy every Queen album (vinyl) I could find. I could only get one - A Night at the Opera - but I played it so many times on my scratchy little record player it's amazing there was any of it left by the time I left it in the sun five years later and it warped. In 1986, aged 17, I went to my first ever concert and saw Queen (supported by Status Quo and INXS) at Wembley Stadium in London. It turned out to be their last tour - Freddie Mercury died six years later. I'm so glad I persuaded my parents to let me go. For several years my entire wardrobe consisted only of Queen t-shirts and jeans, and my first husband, also a Queen fan, told me that I first caught his eye because of my choice of clothing.
Most important of all, I think, Queen's music inspired me to write. I still haven't finished it, but I started writing a fantasy novel called "Horses Born with Eagle Wings", based on many of the themes, characters and stories on the first two Queen albums. Even the title is a Queen lyric. (Should I mention that my tattoo is of a winged horse called Eagle? I'm a convert, remember...) That led to a general love of writing, and you know the rest.
Ironically, when my first book was published, I wrote in my author bio that I loved rock music. My editor felt that wasn't appropriate and suggested that the bio just note my love of "music" lest I be seen to be advocating thrash metal to my LDS audience. I dug my heels in and refused, because the fact is that I love rock music and I hate jazz, opera, rap and country.
I thought I'd never feel as inspired by music again as I was by Queen 25 years ago today, but last week my eldest daughter plugged her MP3 player into the car as we travelled together to go shopping, and I discovered Muse. They are well named. And yes, I've just gone out and bought every Muse album, and I'm going to see them at Wembley Stadium in September, with my daughter. I suspect some wardrobe changes are imminent.
As I write this I am listening to "Knights of Cydonia" and I've included lyrics from this, and from "Uprising" (my favourite Muse track) in my current fantasy novel, Emon and the Empire. I'm not the first writer to be inspired by Muse (I can't listen to "Supermassive Black Hole" without seeing vampires playing baseball) and like Sister Meyer I am finding that listening to their music whilst writing helps conjure up the required atmosphere and makes the words flow better.
So on this auspicious date I would like to publicly honour the bands whose music has provided the soundtrack to my life, countless hours of pleasure, and the inspiration behind some of my books. Queen - Magnum - Def Leppard - Muse - Thank you for sharing your talent and helping me to share mine.
It's the 25th Anniversary of Live Aid today, and I remember it well. In 1985 a friend persuaded me that if I was going to watch any of it, Queen were the band I shouldn't miss. So (because my parents hate any non-classical music) I went upstairs to my parents' bedroom and watched it on the little portable TV in their room, lying on my stomach across their bed.
I was blown away, stunned by just how good rock music could be. And from that moment I was a Queen fan. I joined their fan club (I finally neglected to renew my membership 20 years later) and went to the local Woolworth's to buy every Queen album (vinyl) I could find. I could only get one - A Night at the Opera - but I played it so many times on my scratchy little record player it's amazing there was any of it left by the time I left it in the sun five years later and it warped. In 1986, aged 17, I went to my first ever concert and saw Queen (supported by Status Quo and INXS) at Wembley Stadium in London. It turned out to be their last tour - Freddie Mercury died six years later. I'm so glad I persuaded my parents to let me go. For several years my entire wardrobe consisted only of Queen t-shirts and jeans, and my first husband, also a Queen fan, told me that I first caught his eye because of my choice of clothing.
Most important of all, I think, Queen's music inspired me to write. I still haven't finished it, but I started writing a fantasy novel called "Horses Born with Eagle Wings", based on many of the themes, characters and stories on the first two Queen albums. Even the title is a Queen lyric. (Should I mention that my tattoo is of a winged horse called Eagle? I'm a convert, remember...) That led to a general love of writing, and you know the rest.
Ironically, when my first book was published, I wrote in my author bio that I loved rock music. My editor felt that wasn't appropriate and suggested that the bio just note my love of "music" lest I be seen to be advocating thrash metal to my LDS audience. I dug my heels in and refused, because the fact is that I love rock music and I hate jazz, opera, rap and country.
I thought I'd never feel as inspired by music again as I was by Queen 25 years ago today, but last week my eldest daughter plugged her MP3 player into the car as we travelled together to go shopping, and I discovered Muse. They are well named. And yes, I've just gone out and bought every Muse album, and I'm going to see them at Wembley Stadium in September, with my daughter. I suspect some wardrobe changes are imminent.
As I write this I am listening to "Knights of Cydonia" and I've included lyrics from this, and from "Uprising" (my favourite Muse track) in my current fantasy novel, Emon and the Empire. I'm not the first writer to be inspired by Muse (I can't listen to "Supermassive Black Hole" without seeing vampires playing baseball) and like Sister Meyer I am finding that listening to their music whilst writing helps conjure up the required atmosphere and makes the words flow better.
So on this auspicious date I would like to publicly honour the bands whose music has provided the soundtrack to my life, countless hours of pleasure, and the inspiration behind some of my books. Queen - Magnum - Def Leppard - Muse - Thank you for sharing your talent and helping me to share mine.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
First Impressions
While recently working in the Temple cafeteria, I had the wonderful experience of serving dinner to Elder Richard G. Scott, Sister Madsen, (the sweet widow of Brother Truman R. Madsen) and their guest whom I am unsure but I suspect was a grandson of one of theirs.
I loved serving them and visiting with them. All were very complimentary of the food and service. It was such a pleasure to be in their company.
Upon returning to the kitchen, I was told by my fellow worker I had a green thing stuck in the middle of my teeth. Now, this was no small thing, it was a great big piece of leafy green lettuce. I was horrified considering the company I had just been in. Such is the way things go for me… I can laugh it off--several days later. But it has me thinking about first impressions.
First of all, I looked up the meaning of first impressions: It is a first consideration or judgment.
We are told we are not to “judge” or that we are to judge in righteousness. As I think of the definition and this warning coupled with the definition of “first impressions”—particularly the word judgment I can’t help but think how I am rarely correct with my first impressions of people. I find that often times those who I am most nervous to meet; that I feel intimidated by, are often the most down to earth and lovable people. In fact, it is true that in a some instances there are people I was terrified to meet, because I admired them so much for their talents, that turned out to be completely wonderful just by being themselves and not just defined by their talents. They became my some of my best friends. I admired them for first being who they are.
Then there are those who I feel I may have much in common with, seem to be the ones I end up least connected to and often the simple things we have in common, may in fact be our only link.
I have learned very well, to pay little heed to my first impressions, as they usually end up being nothing more than snap judgments and I would hate to lose out on some of the wonderful friendships I could have had because of a wrong first impression. (There are of course, an exception to this rule when a first impression warns you that a person is dangerous or could harm you, etc. In that case I would pay very close attention and follow it's promptings!)
So, if I have such a difficult time with my "first considerations," do others struggle as well? How do people perceive me for the first time? It makes me wonder. I may score more points if I don’t walk around with big green things hanging between my front teeth…
I have read that it takes 30 seconds to two minutes for people to make up their minds about you. This may be way overestimating things. I have also read it takes seven seconds to seventeen seconds to make a first impression. Whichever is correct, that doesn’t give a person much time to make a lasting consideration or to have a judgment placed on them. I do know that it is said, “You don’t get a second chance to make a good first impression.”
I found an article written by Bill Lampton who has a PhD,. He made a list of seven things that make a good strong first impression. I won’t quote him of the article in it’s entirety, some is not word for word, but I thought the ideas were good. And if I may, I’d like to add and eighth one to the list at the bottom. So here we go:
1. The greatest way to make a positive first impression is to demonstrate immediately that the other person, not you, is the center of action and conversation. --He says if the spotlight is only on you you’ll miss opportunities for friendships, jobs, networking, and sales, etc. If you show that you are other- centered, people will want to see you again.
2. Closely related: Use superb listening skills. Using prompts like, “How interesting!” or “What did you do next?” shows excellent listening skills and positive verbal cues. Maintain eye contact and avoid looking over your shoulder for an escape route.
3. Using the name of a new acquaintance shows you paid attention from the start. It also makes the conversation more personal.
4. Be careful with Humor. Although a quip or two may serve as an icebreaker, you don’t want sarcasm to backfire. You don’t know a stranger’s sensitivities.
5. Follow Dr. Wayne Dryer’s advice, offered in his in his book “Real Magic,” by “giving up the need to be right.” Confrontations with someone you’ve just met will spoil any rapport you can have. Wait until you can establish credibility before you challenge another’s statements.
6. Appearance counts. What he had to say here applied more for work or job interviews. But I still think the way we take care of ourselves portrays a message no matter where we are.
7. As a communication specialist, I have to point out that an individual’s speaking style impacts a first impression, maybe more than we wish—listeners judge our intelligence, our education, our cultural level, even our leadership abilities on the words we select-- and by the way we say them.
8. And the one I wanted to add was to not walk around with green things in your teeth. Perhaps this falls under the appearance category?
I do know that I tend to joke around a lot and I know I take for granted that people know where my heart is at. I would never mean to intentionally hurt or mistreat any one. But what of first impressions? Number four caught my attention and so did a few of the others on this list. And it all started with #8.
I know that I’ll be more mindful of my first considerations of people because to me, no second chances at giving a good first impressions seems—well, it just seems a little too judgmental for my peace of mind. :)
I loved serving them and visiting with them. All were very complimentary of the food and service. It was such a pleasure to be in their company.
Upon returning to the kitchen, I was told by my fellow worker I had a green thing stuck in the middle of my teeth. Now, this was no small thing, it was a great big piece of leafy green lettuce. I was horrified considering the company I had just been in. Such is the way things go for me… I can laugh it off--several days later. But it has me thinking about first impressions.
First of all, I looked up the meaning of first impressions: It is a first consideration or judgment.
We are told we are not to “judge” or that we are to judge in righteousness. As I think of the definition and this warning coupled with the definition of “first impressions”—particularly the word judgment I can’t help but think how I am rarely correct with my first impressions of people. I find that often times those who I am most nervous to meet; that I feel intimidated by, are often the most down to earth and lovable people. In fact, it is true that in a some instances there are people I was terrified to meet, because I admired them so much for their talents, that turned out to be completely wonderful just by being themselves and not just defined by their talents. They became my some of my best friends. I admired them for first being who they are.
Then there are those who I feel I may have much in common with, seem to be the ones I end up least connected to and often the simple things we have in common, may in fact be our only link.
I have learned very well, to pay little heed to my first impressions, as they usually end up being nothing more than snap judgments and I would hate to lose out on some of the wonderful friendships I could have had because of a wrong first impression. (There are of course, an exception to this rule when a first impression warns you that a person is dangerous or could harm you, etc. In that case I would pay very close attention and follow it's promptings!)
So, if I have such a difficult time with my "first considerations," do others struggle as well? How do people perceive me for the first time? It makes me wonder. I may score more points if I don’t walk around with big green things hanging between my front teeth…
I have read that it takes 30 seconds to two minutes for people to make up their minds about you. This may be way overestimating things. I have also read it takes seven seconds to seventeen seconds to make a first impression. Whichever is correct, that doesn’t give a person much time to make a lasting consideration or to have a judgment placed on them. I do know that it is said, “You don’t get a second chance to make a good first impression.”
I found an article written by Bill Lampton who has a PhD,. He made a list of seven things that make a good strong first impression. I won’t quote him of the article in it’s entirety, some is not word for word, but I thought the ideas were good. And if I may, I’d like to add and eighth one to the list at the bottom. So here we go:
1. The greatest way to make a positive first impression is to demonstrate immediately that the other person, not you, is the center of action and conversation. --He says if the spotlight is only on you you’ll miss opportunities for friendships, jobs, networking, and sales, etc. If you show that you are other- centered, people will want to see you again.
2. Closely related: Use superb listening skills. Using prompts like, “How interesting!” or “What did you do next?” shows excellent listening skills and positive verbal cues. Maintain eye contact and avoid looking over your shoulder for an escape route.
3. Using the name of a new acquaintance shows you paid attention from the start. It also makes the conversation more personal.
4. Be careful with Humor. Although a quip or two may serve as an icebreaker, you don’t want sarcasm to backfire. You don’t know a stranger’s sensitivities.
5. Follow Dr. Wayne Dryer’s advice, offered in his in his book “Real Magic,” by “giving up the need to be right.” Confrontations with someone you’ve just met will spoil any rapport you can have. Wait until you can establish credibility before you challenge another’s statements.
6. Appearance counts. What he had to say here applied more for work or job interviews. But I still think the way we take care of ourselves portrays a message no matter where we are.
7. As a communication specialist, I have to point out that an individual’s speaking style impacts a first impression, maybe more than we wish—listeners judge our intelligence, our education, our cultural level, even our leadership abilities on the words we select-- and by the way we say them.
8. And the one I wanted to add was to not walk around with green things in your teeth. Perhaps this falls under the appearance category?
I do know that I tend to joke around a lot and I know I take for granted that people know where my heart is at. I would never mean to intentionally hurt or mistreat any one. But what of first impressions? Number four caught my attention and so did a few of the others on this list. And it all started with #8.
I know that I’ll be more mindful of my first considerations of people because to me, no second chances at giving a good first impressions seems—well, it just seems a little too judgmental for my peace of mind. :)
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Motherhood - the pay stinks but the benefits are amazing!
Two of my sisters and I took our kids to Ikea the other day. This is one of our favorite stores and thank goodness, it's very kid friendly (between the three of us, we had 8 kids with us).
We descended upon the store and began our adventure of winding through the aisles, directing the kids through different sections of the store, pulling them off the beds (the mattresses are definitely durable and quite bouncy, I might add) and catching them as they tested how far they could go in the swinging chairs without falling out (I'm sorry, but even I would love a swinging chair in my bedroom).
Needless to say, though, shopping with eight kids is tiring. It was getting near dinner time and we new the little tykes were getting hungry. And then my sister remembered hearing that kids under twelve ate FREE at Ikea.
The three of us giggled as we herded the kids toward the cafeteria. Why not ask, we figured. We arrived to find literally no one else in line. We had the place to ourselves. Laughing skeptically, we approached the lady at the cash register.
"Hi," I said, "Is it true that kids under twelve eat free?"
"It's true," she answered.
"Is that with a paying adult?"
"No. The kids eat free."
"Really?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Free?"
The girl nodded, apparently amused with my obvious shock and disbelief.
It felt like Christmas.
I turned to my sisters, trying to hold back my excitement and laughter and said, "It's free."
They did their best to contain their own laughter as they scanned the faces of eight, eager and hungry children, under the age of twelve.
"Okay," I said with a shrug, "grab a tray."
Knocking over a few of the smaller ones, the big kids raced to the counter and formed a line. With pure joy, my sisters and I watched as our stair-step brood of offspring made their choices and received their meals, all FREE. If you haven't had the meatballs with Lingonberry jam at Ikea, you are missing out.
Needless to say, it was the best shopping outing ever and the kids are dying to go back as soon as possible.
So, next time you're having a crazy day and you need to fun outing, go shopping at Ikea. Take your kids, hey, take the neighbor's kids. I don't know how long the deal lasts, but it's definitely worth the trip.
FYI: A CNN report stated that a study was done on the work a mother puts in each day and how much she would make if she actually got paid. The firm conducting the study concluded that "the typical mother puts in a 92-hour work week and works at least 10 jobs. In order of hours spent on them per week, these are: housekeeper, day-care center teacher, cook, computer operator, laundry machine operator, janitor, facilities manager, van driver, chief executive officer and psychologist. By figuring out the median salaries for each position, and calculating the average number of hours worked at each, the firm came up with $138,095 -- three percent higher than last year's results.
Even mothers who work full-time jobs outside the home put in $85,939 worth of work as mothers, according to Salary.com."
Friday, July 2, 2010
America, the Beautiful, America the Blessed
I'm not ashamed to admit that I cry when I hear the Star-Spangled Banner. I picture Francis Scott Key and his friend standing on the deck of the ship, peering through the breaking dawn, fearful of what they would - or wouldn't see. Then the sun reveals the heart-stopping view of the American flag, still waving over the fort, though tattered and blackened by the battle which had raged throughout the night. My heart beats in gratitude for the inspiration he received to write that anthem.
I hear Patrick Henry's stirring speech, "I know not what course others may take, but as for me, GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH!" and hail those early heroes who knew how dangerous was their course, but plunged ahead anyway, giving me the opportunity to raise my children in the "land of the free and the home of the brave."
When we were in Armenia, there were only two flights in and out of that little Christian country per week and only one friendly border that could be crossed because of wars with neighboring Muslim countries. One day sitting by the open window I heard the sound of an airplane. I commented to my husband in the other room what an unusual sound it was in Armenia. Having lived on and near numerous Air Force bases in our 25 years in the Air Force, it was a sound we were so used to, we eventually didn't give it a second thought. But when he called back, "That's the sound of freedom," I realized the significant truth in that statement.
Freedom! What a beautiful word. What a privilege to live in this country where so many gave their lives and their all that their posterity could enjoy those priceless freedoms they held so dear. Those 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence sacrificed their families, their homes, and some even their lives because of their stand against the crushing oppression of unreasonable taxation.
When Thomas Jefferson said: "We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor," he meant it, as did each of those men.
John Adams said: "All that I have, and all that I am, and all that hope, in this life, I am now ready here to stake upon it; and I leave off as I begun, that live or die, survive or perish, I am for the Declaration. It is my living sentiment, and by the blessing of God, it shall be my dying sentiment, Independence, now, and INDEPENDENCE FOR EVER."
". . .Thomas Jefferson tells that on the day of our nation's birth in the little hall in Philadelphia, debate had rated for hours. The men gathered there were honorable men, hard-pressed by a king who had flouted the very laws they were willing to obey. Even so, to sign a Declaration of Independence was such an irretrievable act that the walls resounded with the words "treason, the gallows, the headman's axe," and the issue remained in doubt.
Then a man rose and spoke. Jefferson described him as not a young man, but one who had to summon all his energy for an impassioned plea. He cited the grievances that had brought them to this moment and finally, his voice failing, he said, "They may turn every tree into a gallows, every home into a grave, and yet the words of that parchment can never die. To the mechanic in the workshop, they will speak hope; to the slave in the mines, freedom. Sign that parchment. Sign if the next moment the noose is around your next, for that parchment will be the textbook of freedom, the Bible of the rights of man forever." He fell back, exhausted.
The 56 delegates, swept up by his eloquence, rushed forward and signed a document destined to be as immortal as a work of man can be. When they turned to thank him for his timely oratory, he was not be found, no could any be found who knew who he was or how he had come in or gone out through the locked and guarded doors. Fifty-six men, a little band so unique, of which we have never seen the like since, had pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor
What manner of men were they? Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists, eleven were mercants and tradesmen, and nine were farmers. They were soft-spoken men of means and education; they were not an unwashed rabble. They had achieved security but valued freedom more. Their stories have not been told nearly enough.
John Hart was driven from the side of his desperately ill wife. For more than a year, he lived in the forest and caves before he returned to find his wife dead, his children vanished, and his property destroyed. He died of exhaustion and a broken heart.
Carter Braxton of Virginia lost all his ships, sold his home to pay his debts, and died in rags. And so it was with Ellery, Clmyer, Hall, Walton, Gwinnett, Rutledge, Morris, Livingston and Middleton. Nelson personally urged Washington to fire on his home and destroy it when it became the headquarters for General Cornwallis. Nelson died bankrupt.
But they sired a nation that grew from sea to shining sea. Five million farms, quiet villages, cities that never sleep, three million square miles of forest, field, mountain and desert, millions of people with a pedigree which includes the bloodlines of all the world. There have been revolutions before and since ours. But those revolutions simply exchanged one set of rules for another. Ours was a revolution that changed the very concept of government.
Let the Fourth of July always be a reminder that here in this land, for the first time, it was decided that man is born with certain God-given rights: that government is only a convenience created and managed by the people, with no powers of its own except those voluntarily granted to it by the people. We sometimes forget that great truth and we never should." Written by President Ronald Reagan, 1981 on a yellow pad at Camp David for Parade Magazine.
I couldn't have said it better. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing on Sunday, the 234th anniversary of that day in 1776, remember how incredibly blessed we are to enjoy the freedoms provided us by a loving Father in Heaven, and all those who have spilled their precious blood to keep us free from the tyranny that ever endeavors to take it from us. We must always remember, freedom isn't free. It must be preserved and protected, even from within our own borders and government.
I hear Patrick Henry's stirring speech, "I know not what course others may take, but as for me, GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH!" and hail those early heroes who knew how dangerous was their course, but plunged ahead anyway, giving me the opportunity to raise my children in the "land of the free and the home of the brave."
When we were in Armenia, there were only two flights in and out of that little Christian country per week and only one friendly border that could be crossed because of wars with neighboring Muslim countries. One day sitting by the open window I heard the sound of an airplane. I commented to my husband in the other room what an unusual sound it was in Armenia. Having lived on and near numerous Air Force bases in our 25 years in the Air Force, it was a sound we were so used to, we eventually didn't give it a second thought. But when he called back, "That's the sound of freedom," I realized the significant truth in that statement.
Freedom! What a beautiful word. What a privilege to live in this country where so many gave their lives and their all that their posterity could enjoy those priceless freedoms they held so dear. Those 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence sacrificed their families, their homes, and some even their lives because of their stand against the crushing oppression of unreasonable taxation.
When Thomas Jefferson said: "We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor," he meant it, as did each of those men.
John Adams said: "All that I have, and all that I am, and all that hope, in this life, I am now ready here to stake upon it; and I leave off as I begun, that live or die, survive or perish, I am for the Declaration. It is my living sentiment, and by the blessing of God, it shall be my dying sentiment, Independence, now, and INDEPENDENCE FOR EVER."
". . .Thomas Jefferson tells that on the day of our nation's birth in the little hall in Philadelphia, debate had rated for hours. The men gathered there were honorable men, hard-pressed by a king who had flouted the very laws they were willing to obey. Even so, to sign a Declaration of Independence was such an irretrievable act that the walls resounded with the words "treason, the gallows, the headman's axe," and the issue remained in doubt.
Then a man rose and spoke. Jefferson described him as not a young man, but one who had to summon all his energy for an impassioned plea. He cited the grievances that had brought them to this moment and finally, his voice failing, he said, "They may turn every tree into a gallows, every home into a grave, and yet the words of that parchment can never die. To the mechanic in the workshop, they will speak hope; to the slave in the mines, freedom. Sign that parchment. Sign if the next moment the noose is around your next, for that parchment will be the textbook of freedom, the Bible of the rights of man forever." He fell back, exhausted.
The 56 delegates, swept up by his eloquence, rushed forward and signed a document destined to be as immortal as a work of man can be. When they turned to thank him for his timely oratory, he was not be found, no could any be found who knew who he was or how he had come in or gone out through the locked and guarded doors. Fifty-six men, a little band so unique, of which we have never seen the like since, had pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor
What manner of men were they? Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists, eleven were mercants and tradesmen, and nine were farmers. They were soft-spoken men of means and education; they were not an unwashed rabble. They had achieved security but valued freedom more. Their stories have not been told nearly enough.
John Hart was driven from the side of his desperately ill wife. For more than a year, he lived in the forest and caves before he returned to find his wife dead, his children vanished, and his property destroyed. He died of exhaustion and a broken heart.
Carter Braxton of Virginia lost all his ships, sold his home to pay his debts, and died in rags. And so it was with Ellery, Clmyer, Hall, Walton, Gwinnett, Rutledge, Morris, Livingston and Middleton. Nelson personally urged Washington to fire on his home and destroy it when it became the headquarters for General Cornwallis. Nelson died bankrupt.
But they sired a nation that grew from sea to shining sea. Five million farms, quiet villages, cities that never sleep, three million square miles of forest, field, mountain and desert, millions of people with a pedigree which includes the bloodlines of all the world. There have been revolutions before and since ours. But those revolutions simply exchanged one set of rules for another. Ours was a revolution that changed the very concept of government.
Let the Fourth of July always be a reminder that here in this land, for the first time, it was decided that man is born with certain God-given rights: that government is only a convenience created and managed by the people, with no powers of its own except those voluntarily granted to it by the people. We sometimes forget that great truth and we never should." Written by President Ronald Reagan, 1981 on a yellow pad at Camp David for Parade Magazine.
I couldn't have said it better. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing on Sunday, the 234th anniversary of that day in 1776, remember how incredibly blessed we are to enjoy the freedoms provided us by a loving Father in Heaven, and all those who have spilled their precious blood to keep us free from the tyranny that ever endeavors to take it from us. We must always remember, freedom isn't free. It must be preserved and protected, even from within our own borders and government.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Fourth of July!
Sunday will be the Fourth of July; the celebration for our country’s declaration of independence from the rule of monarchy of Great Britain. It is one of my favorite holidays. I love this country. I stand in awe of the brilliance of the founding fathers, I marvel at the strength and simplicity of the Constitution they scribed, and I cherish the liberty that came of their struggle.
It is a blessing to live in this country—a blessing that many Americans have been lax to appreciate and honor. I think the current attempts to twist this country’s foundational principles have brought a drowsing population awake. City and country Americans alike are renewing their commitment to the tenets of the original Constitutional concepts; they’re speaking out against a transforming of this nation’s purpose; they’re reevaluating their own virtue and values.
Samuel Adams said: “Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt. He therefore is the truest friend of the liberty of his country who tries most to promote its virtue.” Adams also said: “We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry would break the strongest cords of our constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
George Washington referred to religion and morality as the “great Pillars of human happiness.”
My voice is small, but I concur with these great men who pledged their lives, property, and sacred honor, that in order for America to remain good, her people must be good.
As I pledge allegiance to the flag, this Fourth of July, I will also pledge to be a better person. One by one we can set America back on a path of greatness.
It is a blessing to live in this country—a blessing that many Americans have been lax to appreciate and honor. I think the current attempts to twist this country’s foundational principles have brought a drowsing population awake. City and country Americans alike are renewing their commitment to the tenets of the original Constitutional concepts; they’re speaking out against a transforming of this nation’s purpose; they’re reevaluating their own virtue and values.
Samuel Adams said: “Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt. He therefore is the truest friend of the liberty of his country who tries most to promote its virtue.” Adams also said: “We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry would break the strongest cords of our constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
George Washington referred to religion and morality as the “great Pillars of human happiness.”
My voice is small, but I concur with these great men who pledged their lives, property, and sacred honor, that in order for America to remain good, her people must be good.
As I pledge allegiance to the flag, this Fourth of July, I will also pledge to be a better person. One by one we can set America back on a path of greatness.
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