Leadership consists of nothing but taking responsibility for everything that goes wrong and giving your subordinates credit for everything that goes well.
To be true to one’s own freedom is, in essence, to honor and respect the freedom of others.
Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969) was the 34th President of the United States.
In the United States, the “Pledge of Allegiance” has been recited countless times in school classrooms, at the beginning of meetings, sporting events, and other instances. The original 29 words were inspired by the writings of Francis Bellamy (from 1892) and became official in 1923. In 1954, the words, “under God” were added. These 31 words mean much more than just a mere collection of words.
We the People, commit to stand
With loyalty across this land
Stars and Stripes shall forever fly
Old Glory standing proud and high
Solidarity, stand as One
United, never be undone
A more perfect Union shall spring
Shining democracy will ring
Tested, resilient, and upright
Faithful courage, nation’s birthright
Built upon God’s eternal love
Divine guidance comes from above
Inseparable and lasting
Forged by trial and fire’s casting
Covering this land of the free
Freedom from sea to shining sea
Conquers inequities with care
Truth and righteousness come to bear
I have posted this video before, but it is worth a second look. Here is American comedian, Red Skelton, sharing his interpretation of the words’ meaning in the “Pledge of Allegiance.”
Originally published January, 2021.
I have learned to seek my happiness by limiting my desires, rather than in attempting to satisfy them.
Genius can only breath freely in an atmosphere of freedom.
John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) was an English philosopher, civil servant, and political economist. He was a member of the British Parliament from 1865-1868.
We need more light about each other. Light creates understanding, understanding creates love, love creates patience, patience creates unity.
You can’t separate peace from freedom because no one can be a peace unless he has his freedom.
Malcolm X (1925-1965) was an American human rights activist.
From Psalm 107:28-29: “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out from their distress; He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad because they had quiet, and He brought them to their desired haven.”
Life meeting relentless turbulence
Perpetual, never ending storms
Shaken by overwhelming defeat
Sinking beneath unending harsh swarms
Downtrodden, now hungry and thirsty
Clinging to life, in darkness and gloom
Shackled by sin’s shame, harshest irons
God’s steadfast love delivers from doom
Crying out to our Father above
At final end of life’s fraying rope
Nowhere else to turn, escape darkens
Realizing now, God’s way restores hope
Cutting and freeing lives from bondage
Storm’s wrath consumed by transformation
Into valley of richest harvests
Redeeming lost souls from damnation
Fleeing life’s turmoil, rescued by God
Trusting Him leads to gladness and praise
Faith grows by yards instead of inches
Life’s turbulence quiets, hope ablaze
From American pastor and Christian teacher, Charles Stanley: “God knows we sometimes need to reach the end of our own resources before we will turn to Him.”
Originally published January, 2021.
Praising
Faithful steps
Every day, believing
Mercy revealed through Jesus
Enriched
Accepting
Heavenly grace
From Father’s hands
Rising with faith’s Savior
Transformed
Releasing
Life’s burdens
Carried by Christ
Faith seeing His light
Freed
Freedom is the open window through which pours the sunlight of the human spirit and human dignity.
National character cannot be built by law. It is the sum of the moral fiber of its individuals.
Herbert Hoover (1874-1964) was the 31st American President.
From Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
With each morning sunrise
Lifting eyes to heavens above
Praise every blessing
Embracing Savior’s love
With each tribulation
Embracing Father’s grace above
Praise every blessing
Breathing from depths of His love
With challenges ahead
Breathing from ever tranquil seas
Praise every blessing
Taking steps to be free
With each evening sunset
Taking control of endless seas
Praise every blessing
Walking with Christ, now free
From the words of American pastor and Christian author, Charles Swindoll: “Attitude is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than what people do or say. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill.”
From Isaiah 42:6-7: “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.”
Blindness to Gospel’s light
Following enemy’s false word
Nonbelievers walk in darkness
Tomorrow remains blurred
Alone in wilderness
Searching for trusted pathway home
God sends His righteous light to guide
Where Spirit always roams
Sheep never forgotten
Coming to Shepherd’s open gate
Mercy’s always forgiving light
Witness tomorrow’s fate
Vision no longer blind
Finding light’s genuine code
Faithful covenant sealed with love
Freedom’s eternal road
Savior’s voice heard from high
Shining through darkness, Heaven’s light
God’s glory seen in face of Christ
Salvation dressed in white
From 2 Corinthians 4:6: “For it is the God who said, ‘Light will shine out of darkness,’ who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”
In December, 1989, the Romanian Revolution ignited with passion, which would no longer wait in silence. The rest of the Eastern Bloc countries under Soviet influence had already experienced peaceful change from communist dictatorships. Under Nicolae Ceausescu’s harsh leadership, Romania was the final holdout as the democratic wave of freedom blitzed across Eastern Europe. The city of Timisoara was the first in Romania to secure its freedom, with the rest of the country to follow. This poem shares some of this revolution’s story.
Ruthless, authoritarian rule controls the cards
Harsh, brutal regime crushes dissenting voices
Quietness hides the remaining, burning embers
Daily life conceals wounds, offering few choices
Citizens endure lack of even the basic needs
Challenging days, facing endless heartbreak
Darkest days of winter, hunger and little heat
Voices stifled, experiencing numbing heartache
Freedom routed, plummeting to rock bottom
System of repression forcefully controls lives
Defiant opposition, beaten down to nothing
Dictator’s untruths cover up with empty lies
Scattering of small voices continues to speak out
Smoldering protests fueled with hungry passion
Government crackdowns to silence any dissent
Voices growing bolder, backed with compassion
Massive protests ignite courage in a distant city
“Timisoara” becomes a rallying cry for liberation
Unexpectedly, dark and evil house of cards folds
Season of change witnesses rebirth of a nation
Originally published October, 2020.
Big Sky Buckeye 