Life and Liberty:
A road changes, merges in the lanes of traffic, and the symphony of people coming and going crescendos. We come and go, managing the chaos the best we know how. We merge left, then fight, and the traffic smoothes. The ebb and flow maintains serenity as a pattern courses through the very veins of our lives. Freedom is the umbrella we all live under, and yet, as we have the power to life and liberty, it’s the pursuit of happiness that eludes many. Why do we find in a country with overwhelming amounts of wealth, do so few actually obtain happiness? I think one key factor to happiness is we as Americans don’t truly appreciate what we have, and thus, we are always reaching for what we don’t have. If we are driving in traffic, and we have no set destination, how then are we able to set course? I for one have struggled for many years finding the road in which I was meant to take. Although I encountered traffic jams over and over in my life, and even a few 10-car pile-ups, I would not have finally found the correct expressway. Proverbs 3:5-6“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
The Lord will guide us, and smooth our path. We must trust in the process however, because we don’t always see or understand the why. We always have the ability to throw ourselves off the rails, and when we do, we cannot be surprised when the off road adventure ends in disaster. It’s in those moments when we fall flat on our face it’s in Psalms we find our shortcomings. Psalm 37:23-24“The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.” Have you ever considered your GPS when it redirects you because you made a wrong turn, which is kind of like God telling you, you’re off course? I have often considered myself a constitutionalist trusting and believing in our founding documents held no higher except by the Holy Bible. I spent years getting ready for military service, and then years in service of this country. During that time I swore an oath to uphold those documents and fight any enemy that sought to destroy them. During that service I had the distinct honor to fight along side heroes. Those heroes all came to the fight for different reasons, but we found something in common, something no one would ever be able to take from us, brotherhood/sisterhood. We found family and in one of the most dreadful places, I realized happiness was found in life itself.
We recently celebrated Memorial Day, and I have had mixed feelings for this particular holiday now for many years. On one hand I love being able to celebrate the beautiful lives that have loved this country so much that they fought for and died in the pursuit of keeping this blessed nation safe and free. It takes a lot of effort to keep a nation free after more then 200 years. We’ve always been lucky here in the United States by having natural boarders that limits the ability of an aggressive nation to wage war on our shores. Sadly the world is a lot smaller then it used to be and enemies no longer grow from afar, but live right here in our very neighborhoods, and have begun to attack our way of life. The constitution and our flag now mean very little to so many citizens who live here, and I’ve seen as homegrown terrorism has sprouted like weeds in the garden. I’ve seen schools become battle grounds instead of places of education, and as one person after another disrespects the flag, I am sickened as I think how many of my brothers and sisters have been under one, buried after serving this great nation. I have not only lost friends during time of war, I have given the eulogy for friends lost in combat. Memorial day is a special day for us in this country to stand in honor of the fallen men and women who’ve given their lives so that we may stand and have life, liberty, and pursue happiness.
Happiness is found within life itself. Happiness isn’t the next raise, the next beer, or the fancy car. It’s not the next girlfriend, or the bigger house, or whatever you can fill in the blank: “If I only had ______ I would be happy.” You see, if you didn’t put Jesus in that blank you’re never going to find happiness in stuff. Happiness is knowing Christ, and finding yourself content in whatever situation you find yourself in. Happiness is seeking and trusting in God and not wanting, that you may have peace in your life. Psalm 23:1 “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” We know the Lord will always provide, and Paul knew also. Philippians 4:11“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” As I have watched in horror as people I cared for died in war, I found that happiness was found in life itself. I found happiness in relationships, in the people we have in our lives. I have found how important relationships are because they are short. I have found how important appreciating your blessings, because life can change in a moments notice. Where do you find your happiness? Are you still pursuing happiness, or have you figured out what true happiness is? Life is to short and we must embrace the time we have. Love, and live because the day may come when you look back and realized the importance of time itself and the people around you is what makes life special.
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The Arrow Preacher 