I have to admit something. Contrary to my normally positive perspective, and to the extreme, sometimes "Pollyanna" perspective, in these past few months I have been deeply troubled by all that is going on in our USA. Racial ridiculousness that I thought we had outgrown, unchecked judicial supremacy, political infighting that leads to nowhere--really had started making me wonder, "So, where could I move to restore some national sanity in my life?"
Then I went to a Clearwater Thresher's baseball game last night. After my 2 hot dogs and a great game, we were treated to an amazing 20-30 minutes of awe-inspiring music and choreographed fireworks. They started off playing "God Bless America". As I really listened to the words (probably for the first time in a long time), watched the amber waves of grain on the big screen, with amazing bombs bursting in air as a backdrop, it hit me.
It hit me that God had His sovereign hand on the inception of this country thru the hearts of the founding fathers (regardless of the historic revisionism that is trying to take place). It hit me that our location in the world, our climate, and our natural resources are not by accident. It hit me that, in spite of the Washington craziness, we still have a government that allows me to go anywhere I want, to do pretty much what I want, and even think what I want. And it hit me that the preservation of this way of life for the past 239 years is not by accident.
As Lee Greenwood closed us out with his "God Bless the USA" and the sky was filled with a finale that would rival Disney's, I was thanking God for His sovereign hand that has been on our country and for allowing me to enjoy this once-in-the-history-of-mankind experience. I also was asking Him for the strength to listen well as He guides us thru these turbulent waters, and that His hand will remain on our nation.
I've heard it said that we are blessed to be a blessing. I try very hard to remember that personally; but, as I am reminded how incredibly blessed we have been as a country, I need to remember that God has blessed us as a nation to be a blessing to others. I ask that we take time to pray today to see where God is needing us to step up in our world to take the blessings he has so abundantly provided us and use them to be a blessing to others--within our land and abroad--to show Christ's love and hope to this ever-darkening world.
While your doing that, enjoy those hot dogs and watermelon with your family and friends! Now there's blessing.
-Dan Mullett, 2015 Aldersgate Emmaus Lay Director