Hath made and preserved us a nation

On July 2nd 1776, Congress unanimously affirmed to proclaim independence. John Adams wrote the following to his wife on July 3rd:

Yesterday the greatest question was decided, which ever was debated in America, and a greater, perhaps, never was or will be decided among Men. A resolution was passed without one dissenting colony "that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states, and as such they have, and of right ought to have, full power to make war, conclude peace, establish commerce, and to do all the other acts and things which other states may rightfully do." You will see in a few days a declaration setting forth the causes which have impelled us to this mighty revolution and the reasons which will justify it in the sight of God and man.

The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade with shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.

You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these states. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will triumph in that Days Transaction, even although We should rue it, with I trust in God We shall not.


Though he was off by a day or two, I love the sentiments that he expresses in regards to the impending celebration of our independence. Perhaps we could likewise put the same force of meaning behind our jubilation, treasuring the sacrifice that has been put forth and must continue to be offered in order to sustain our country, free and independent.

But most importantly, we must remember to "Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!" How grateful I am for the many miracles that occurred to provide independence, to allow the revolution to succeed, and a free nation to be established. So many little things could have swung the war to our loss, or ravaged unity away from the continental congress and the colonies. But we stand here at the end of many generations still enjoying the strength that the founders afforded us.

And to that I say "Let freedom ring!!"

Remorse: Just One More

If I am going to feel remorse in life, I want it to be not for doing something wrong, but for not doing enough right. Or in other words, if I must feel sorrow, I want it to be because I tried to do good and came up short. In that case, I would know that I was trying, and that my heart truly desired the right thing, even though my inadequacies prevented full achievement.

I recently watched Schindler's List. Powerful movie. I would watch the entire thing again, just to see the final scene. Oskar Schindler, as he is leaving the Jews he saved (over 1100), starts to break down saying "I could have saved more," "I wasted so much money," "I could have gotten more," etc. But as he sinks into tears, he says "Just one more...Just one more..." Through the course of the movie, he transformed from a profiteering businessman into a humanist. At the end, this is a man who had spent his entire fortune and put himself in a very dangerous situation to keep these Jews alive. And after saving so many and coming to the end of that situation, even after the incredible good he had done, he begins to realize all of the places where if he did a little more or tried a little harder, he could have saved even more lives.

I know that I am going to be lazy at times, that I may squander an hour or two that could be put to use profiting another. There will be tasks at which I try hard, but perhaps later down the road I will realize that if I had tried harder, it would have made all of the difference to one. Hopefully that recognition now can minimize such wasted time and energy and help me to make more fully the difference that I must make in this world. The individual life is so precious, from Gospel, secular, or any other perspective worth viewing life through.

Just one more...if I could only save just one more...

Epic fail, and moving onward

To fail with grace is a trait that I have yet to develop. I'm not horrendous in failure, but I don't have full composure and control over myself.

I had 5 failures today. Some were more consequential than others, but 5 important things went more wrong than right today. One of these by itself would be enough to dim the brightness of my day, but the combined effect produce near nightfall on my otherwise sunny outlook.

I am reminded of a quote I enjoy by Winston Churchill:

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."

And thus I move today from one failure to another, hoping that I am able to maintain my enthusiasm in all areas, and move forward to the outcomes I desire.

But at the very least, I hope not to burden others with my misfortunes. Rather, through the gloom will the light be shining, onward and up. There is always good.

I'm not superman

That's surprisingly hard for me to admit. It shouldn't be, but I've always had the mentality that I could do anything. Within reason, of course, but that given the time, I could accomplish anything. But in the last few weeks, I have been reminded more and more of my shortcomings and inabilities. I am not invincible. I can't run full steam all day, and half the night and expect to be able to do it all again the next day. I can't load myself with only difficult classes and lots of obligations and expect to absorb all the information and perform well in all of them.

I don't know if my capacity for focus and comprehension has diminished, or if I am actually facing a significantly more difficult load of responsibility. But I just seem unable to do the things I expect myself to do. This semester is I think the first time that I have felt anxiety from stress. Interesting experience, I do not reccomend anxiety. I'm used to having and managing a large amount of stress, and I can usually control my nerves, so being close to the edge where anxiety begins to inhibit me physically and mentally was disconcerting.

Fortunately, that not is the my constant state of being. The majority of the time, I feel fine and enjoy life. Except for those moments when I am reminded that I am not as capable as I thought. Hopefully I find a renewed capacity soon, or become more aware of what my capacity limits are, and act within them. Until then, I am going to press on and hope my energy and ability lasts me through my labors.

Despite these remarks, life is good, and I am happy.

Presidential Greatness

I have thought on various occasions what is it about certain people that makes them great. Presidents day is tomorrow, so declared in honor of two of our most beloved presidents. Their impact becomes ever more apparent as the world rolls forward. As cliche as it may be, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln are my two favorite presidents.

Washington was one of the few in history who had total power and gave it up. Cincinattus was another, from Roman days. Washington had full command of the military prior to his presidency, and was prevailed upon to remain as president for longer than his two terms. But he chose to give his power back to the people, having done his duty now to rest. This is in significant contrast to former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, who gained the presidency and lingered there, allowing power to corrupt.

Lincoln showed the restraint of a dignified leader. Instead of pressing advantage to those who were loyal, he offered generous reconstruction plans to the South upon their surrender. So easy it would have been to hold disdain and begrudge relief for the people who had rebelled, and made life all the worse for them. Rather, healing was sought for the broken nation, to become one nation under God once more.

What was it that made these two presidents great? Though we certainly recognize their many flaws, what was it that enabled them to step up and do the things that our country needed right when it needed it? What was it that forged their characters such that they were prepared to make the decisions that they did? What enabled these two men, without pomp to their presence or haughtiness to their height, to be the strong leaders that they turned out to be? Was it their parents? Was it some adversity? Was it a teacher each may have had? Were they innately endowed with their capacities and desires? When the tough decisions had to be made, what was it that pushed them on into the dark of the unknown?

There will always be a need in all ages of the world for men and women of such caliber as the two presidents for whom our holiday reveres. What can I do to form my character such that I am prepared to chose nobly at my life's junctions, however small or great the consequences may seem? (for indeed, a large gate turns on a very small hinge.)

My fate is not decided, and there is yet time in the day for me to construct a character worthy of the opportunities that have been afforded me. So I go to build, and then to choose.

And so do you.

Inequality

A few things have stood out to me recently in my reading of the scriptures. One of which I noticed in the following passage:

Alma 16:16 "And there was no inequality among them"

Becoming a Zion people, becoming of one heart and one mind is a significant thing. The question that this scripture has led me to ponder is this:

Do I create or sustain inequality by my actions? Is there anything that I do that makes someone feel less important when they're around me? Or if they already feel excluded, do I do anything to rectify?

I try to be kind to those around me, but I don't really think about building unity. I am sure that there is so much that I am missing that could make much more of a difference.

No one likes to feel like a lesser individual, like they're not wanted, to feel left out, feel alone in a room full of people, to go unnoticed among people you know.

To feel like you don't belong. That might be what I'm using as my criteria for inequality. Not the economic or political sense of the word, but the social. I hope to be one who dispells inequality.

One small step to understanding what it means to posess charity.

Then, the trick is to balance that effort with the need to build and maintain deep and important friendships and relationships. It is possible to make everyone feel as equals without spending equal amounts of time with each one. When we are in a group setting, perhaps we should spread our attention to others a bit more, but we can foster our closer relationships by how we choose to spend our time, and who we choose to spend it with.

Humanity

Last night, I ran up to the Y parking lot in Provo. It is one of my favorite spots to run. One, for its difficulty (all uphill, some of it very steep) to get a good workout, and two, for the vantage point I have at the top. I like to look out at the city lights, which I can see across most of the valley. Urban settings have their own beauty to them, especially at night.

From up high, it is easier to think of things on a grander scale. To view the whole rather than the parts. There are so many of us, humans that is, even in a small place like Happy Valley. We all live and interact with one another in various ways.

I've been thinking lately about what we do when we pass someone while on foot. Walking on the sidewalk, someone is coming the opposite direction. You look out and see them, you look down or away as you are approaching or walking by them, trying to avoid awkward eye contact with a stranger, while yet still trying to steal a glance to see what they look like or if you by chance may recognize them. There are many variations on this interaction, but I generally observe that we avoid speaking or even acknowledging the other person. We seem to prefer to walk and let walk, so to speak.

I stand guilty of ignoring humanity as I pass them on the street. Too often I pass by without recognizing their presence, as if they don't matter to me.

They do.

I have been blessed with a knowledge of the Gospel, and I know their worth. And apart from that, I know the great importance that an individual citizen has for the benefit of the whole. And the significance of being human, existing and having cognitive thought.

So, I resolve to do better. I resolve to return to yesteryear, when a cordial greeting would be exchanged by passersby, out of common courtesy and respect for the other. I resolve to speak more to my fellow man, and show them, at least for all of the 5 seconds that would make up our encounter, that they are significant in the world. I don't need to grab the attention of everyone that comes my way, but I know the opportunities that should be taken.

The world seems so much better when you're comfortable exchanging a warm hello with a stranger. And who knows but that their day will be brighter as well.