Vote for Freedom's sake!

"United States of America portrait, Oct 2008" illus. by Paul Pleasant

America is "land of the free, home of the brave." People come from all over the world to the United States – for freedom, for hope, for the chance to make a name for themselves, to start fresh. It's so beautiful to have such a wonderful nation on earth.

Freedom involves risks. Things are not all figured out. Generally, someone does not dictate what is right and wrong - unless it can harm someone else. The glory of America is personal freedom - which many people have enjoyed and appreciated over the years. Our nation has stretched itself thin though recently - in it's pride and selfish-ambition. The pain is at the surface. We can't ignore it (or cope) much longer. Something must be done. Why didn't we listen when the pain was still tolerable?

Some see the US as a rebellious teenager or young adult. ... There is a healthy exploration time in that part of life - to make a name for themselves/to break away from parents (who can be controlling or impose their own expectations). It is an emotional time - the thrill of finally being independent and getting to choose your own adventure ... but if you go too far down the path of rebellion, the teenager may find themselves feeling isolated, lost & confused. They're not able to receive love or wisdom from others - only to cope in their self-sufficiency. The teenagers fought against the system which they felt confined in ... only to figure out a new system for themselves (although they wouldn't call it that). They denounced authority because all the examples they've seen seemed to have holes, secrets, and were just facades hiding (or not) something much worse. They saw the weaknesses and wanted the leaders to expose their secrets - their vulnerable places. Rebellion has no mercy though. It tries to pry open - not to cherish but to kill and rape. It has no love.

There are the freedom fighters though - who see the wisdom in the old ways but also gently want to share new, creative ways to look at things - in love. They have a humility to accept when they might not be completely right and the courage to take on things that lurk in the dark. They have the vision to see what things are out of order & need to be changed - in justice.

It takes mistakes - running yourself too thin, trying to be passionate in a place you're not supposed to be (or just coping with where you're at) to know your boundaries. And boundaries can be hard to learn experientially - it will probably come through wounds. ... Sure you can allow someone to dictate your "do's" and "don'ts" and impose their rules on you, but it may not work for you - they don't honor who you are or respect how you're made. ... It is painful to give up freedom - although sometimes it's necessary to learn wisdom & self-control.

What is just punishment for those who were too bold, too prideful, too selfish? ... Pride hurts other people. It doesn't listen. It thinks its way is right and will try to convince everyone else that they're right. They will even go so far as to kill those who don't agree with them (smirking in their evil ways). It's not pretty, and it's not right. On the outside, Pride will try to have a perfect appearance, but inside them resides decay and anger (which this generation has been pretty good at noticing). Pride-who-wants-to-Control-others is more dangerous, I believe, than some-Pride-who-desires-to-honor-Freedom ... who wants to respect other individuals' motivations & trust them with Freedom ... to let them find their own way, even if it means falling & scrapping your knees a few times. (I would much rather have that kind of parent & authority residing over the USA at this point - although that parent must be BOLD in declaring safe boundaries for society in general, to be okay in their own humanness but at the same time not fearing to speak the way things should be.) This year - 2008 - is a complex election, but an important one, I believe - how will we choose to clean, cut & stitch the big wound we have - that has been ripped open by Pride, Selfish Ambition & Intellectualism (thinking we have it all figured out).

The hooks of Pride will be removed eventually. It's ripping us apart. It's not what America was made for. It was made for the Humble - those who were being persecuted, for desiring freedom, equality in human rights, justice & democracy - for everyone to be able to pursue happiness in their own means, to dream anything & see how they can make it happen. America is beautiful, and we cannot forget who she is, what her glory and Name is about. It's written in the books, in people's hearts, memories & blood - even if today is just a remnant of who she was at her marriage. She's still in there. The humble will draw her forth, will see her whole - despite all her wounds & scars. The Humble will be given authority in the house & Pride will be evicted. It must happen. It will happen - as long as we keep letting the sun shine through the windows. ... Pride must not be honored any longer though. For too long it's taken authority in the house. The children must say "no more!" We're adults now & we won't tolerate your bull shit! You are a lying hypocrite & your words are false. We will not allow you to be in our house any longer. We can SEE you & have seen the junk you're trying to hide in your closet. OUT, now!

... When that break is made though, the humble child must be ready to be made an adult, with names & weapons of authority. They must be ready to take on the responsibilities of running a household, of taking care of others, of keeping the house clean and free from any traps that try to rip our flesh/family/Name.

Then - when Humble have taken authority over the House of America - Freedom will reign again for those who desire to take refuge in her ... and the glory of America will be remembered. It will be in Wisdom, Self-Control, Love & Justice. ... We must stand up now to help her though - she is hurting, in pain & she needs Order to be restored in her house. With those who have eyes to SEE ... speak, vote & make your voice be known! Call her forth with what strength you have & do not be afraid of the wounds Pride might try to give you.

Call forth Life & Freedom (even if it means laying down yours for a moment)!