(Um, yeah... Ignore that first paragraph. As you can see it's not Wednesday anymore. In fact I'm actually posting a Sunday hymn on Sunday. Shocking, I know. And this is also behind the times as I meant to do this relatively close to the 4th, but hey, better late than never I guess.)
Yesterday morning as I was getting ready to leave work, a patriotic song came on the radio & a co-worker said that she didn't really get the point behind all the patriotic stuff. I, unfortunately, gave in to my weaker side & didn't confront her.
What I should have said was this:
The whole patriotism thing is a big deal because, like it or not, this country is the greatest one on the face of the earth. No other nation in history has done so much to ensure that it's people are free. No other nation in history has done so much to protect the weak & defenseless in other parts of the world.
Were you to say something similar in many other countries, that would not be considered your right to state your opinion. You would be hauled away & jailed for treason. In other nations & cultures, you would be killed for just your 'infidel' clothing - a t-shirt & capris. And it would all be legal.
The big deal, for me at least, with the patriotic songs is that they are a reminder. A reminder of all that this country stands for, of all that has been done & sacrificed by generations so that we can have these freedoms that are so natural, so easily used & so easily forgotten by us here in the United States. These same basic human rights are often foreign concepts to others living outside our borders.
While we were on vacation, Mom & I drove around Fort Leavenworth for a while one evening. We stumbled upon the cemetery there & the first thought for both of us was "It's so big!" Then we drove a little further & realized that had only been the tip of the iceberg.
So many white stones. So many soldiers.
All of those soldiers lived & died to protect this nation, this 'social experiment' that set the precedent for freedom. Those soldiers & the ones serving today are the reason this is the greatest nation in the world. Their courage & self-sacrifice leave me speechless in awe & gratitude.
The Battle Hymn of the Republic
Mine eyes have seen the glory
Of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage
Where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning
Of His terrible swift sword;
His truth is marching on.
Chorus
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
I have seen Him in the watchfires
Of a hundred circling camps
They have builded Him an altar
In the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence
By the dim and flaring lamps;
His day is marching on.
Chorus
I have read a fiery gospel writ
In burnished rows of steel:
"As ye deal with My condemners,
So with you My grace shall deal":
Let the Hero born of woman
Crush the serpent with His heel,
Since God is marching on.
Chorus
He has sounded forth the trumpet
That shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men
Before His judgment seat;
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him;
Be jubilant, my feet;
Our God is marching on.
Chorus
In the beauty of the lilies
Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom
That transfigures you and me;
As He died to make men holy,
Let us die to make men free;
While God is marching on.
Chorus
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(Gah! Dang computer keeps double-spacing everything. I'll have to get to another 'puter later to fix it.) – Yay, it’s fixed!
Lyrics found here
Week 6 - Praise You In This Storm
Week 5 - Come Thou Fount
Week 4 - The Old Rugged Cross
Week 3 - Fairest Lord Jesus
Week 2 - Be Thou My Vision
Week 1 - A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
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