My View of Life - Never Better!

                                                                                                                                                                                                        This is My Country
34 years ago, seven missionaries knelt down and kissed the ground at the Santiago International Airport in Chile. It was a bitter/sweet kiss. Although they were involved very little in the politics of that country, they were well aware of the effects of the military dictatorship on its people. They couldn't help but hear of the hundreds of thousands of people that fled the country when it's military under the direction of General Pinochet took over in 1973. Other comments heard were the missing or dead--some 3000 souls.

It was dangerous for the missionaries to be on the streets on certain days. Their identity could be mistaken. It only took one walk in front of a government building to know what it feels like to have a machine gun leveled on them. They never made any sudden moves.

And oh the poverty. It was heart breaking to see how so many of the people lived; dirt floors, no modern appliances, or comfortable beds, and yet, for the most part, they were happy and content with the only life they knew.

But the kiss was exquisitely sweet because all of them had fallen in love with the Chilean People. They had served them diligently for two years. Teaching them that Jesus Christ is our Savior, and in him we may have peace, hope, and joy. They'd made numerous friends, and chalked up a lifetime of memories. Forever more, a good portion of their hearts would remain in the homes, the streets, the plazas, the buildings, the children, and the families of the long skinny country in South America.

"Lo Hicimos" (we did it)one of them shouted. All of them were more used to speaking Spanish. English would be a little uncomfortable for them for a good while. "Volvamos a nuestro pais," (let's return to our own country) another yelled.

I was one of those seven missionaries. We were all ecstatic at returning home--seeing our families, finding jobs, getting an education, and of course falling in love.

We hadn't heard much from the United States. When we left in 1979 it was a little concerning that gas prices doubled in just a few years. Inflation and widespread unemployment were words frequently heard. But we didn't pay it much attention. America was home, and it was strong. Strong was a comforting word. There would always be problems, wars, cold wars, and terrorism in the world. But as long as we were the United States, we would be Ok.

We all stood up. A tear was working its way down several of our faces. We looked at each other with recognition. We were going home. Home to a land of liberty and justice for all. A land of freedom. The Constitution! The amendments! An organized government--divinely organized. One can only read of our Founding Fathers, the scriptures, the hymns, and the testimonies of those that have gone before, and they will understand America's divine origin. And what faith, what courage! I reflected at that moment. Would I, with the decision looming before me, seek shelter from the bombs all around, or, with the last few breaths of life I had, cast my body at the base of the American Flag that the British might know it was still there? Would I, more than self my country love? I responded with a resounding Yes! Yes! I love everything about this country. It's the land where my fathers' died, the land of the pilgrims' pride--I love thy rocks and rills, Thy woods and templed hills...I love it all!

I love American's! Sure we are all different. Americans have different interests and points of view. We're from many different races, religions, and cultures. Great! American's get past those differences and become friends--united we stand. "And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea."

Nearly 34 years have passed since that occasion. Early this morning I awoke with a start. Those last few moments I spent in Chile were coursing through my mind. What was happening? Was it a dream? Some sort of recognition? What if...what if I were leaving Chile today, and coming home? Would it be the same?

The scene unfolded before me. The seven of us, standing in a circle, knelt down. The kiss on the ground was the same--bitter/sweet. But when we stood, it was the look in each other's eyes. The same recognition was there but each of our countenances were casting messages of concern, doubt, and worry. We remained there--silent.

In spite of our busy schedules, we all knew what was going on in America. We could read it on each other's faces. We weren't going home to the land of the free--WE THE PEOPLE. We the people who made this Nation mightier than any nation on earth in so short a time. How could America let this happen? Was it the frog in the cool water slowly warmed until boiling so the frog didn't notice what was happening until it was too late?

We knew, we all knew. The same war, waged in the beginning by Satan before the world was continues. "And the glory be mine," he said. Power and control. The scriptures speak extensively on this matter in these "last days" before our Savior returns. Good will be regarded as evil, and evil good, they teach.

How could we American's not see it? I was named after "Rhett Butler" in the classic 1939 movie of Gone with the Wind. He said the word Damn in that movie. The interesting thing was there were 20,000 letters of protest to the movie's producer for allowing such a word to be verbalized on the big screen. Are we immune to the awful and woeful language in many of our movies at present day--caught in the frog syndrome?

But a far more crucial matter now confronts us. Our very livelihoods! Our divine constitution! It was written to remove the authority from a single entity of power as our founding fathers knew only too well as the power and control over the people of England still resounded vehemently in their minds.

But it's happened! The constitution is being blasted on all sides! Our freedom is in jeopardy! Throughout history we've seen what happens when one person gains all control. He surrounds himself with supporters so he's too powerful to overcome so he thinks, then taxes the people heavily to advance his agenda.

This can only be accomplished by the frog in the water syndrome, but if you look closely, you'll see it unfolding ever more intensely. There's no tolerance for people who stick to their beliefs. They are prosecuted, defamed, broken--livelihoods stripped from them.

Religion is being slammed on all sides because it advocates free agency, repentance, endurance, self reliance, works, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, obedience to the commandments and so on.

The father and mother, once commanded to multiply and replenish the earth, and raise their children to learn integrity, love, charity, kindness, perseverance, hard work--in fine, all the qualities of Christ, are being battled on all sides. Indoctrinate the children with teachers that have succumbed to the new system. Don't teach them anymore about our country's heritage, our founding fathers, and all the freedom's they bled out their lives to pass on to us.

Our rights to protect ourselves is constantly under attack, as well as our right to be protected. I love our officers. They have protected me from harm many times, but they are being besieged as well. And on and on the freedom's American's once knew are being threatened.

What do we do? I was back in the circle of missionaries with our worried countenances. But slowly the concern melted away, and was replaced with a peaceful, positive, even energetic glow. We knew what to do.

We would do just what we taught the people in Chile. Live the gospel of Jesus Christ, loving God, repenting of our sins, and attending our church meetings each Sunday. We'd be true to our religion and faith, and we'd advocate for all other religions to do the same."
"We'll love, accept, and care for people," I said out loud. "You know, Love thy neighbor as thyself. We don't need to adopt or accept sinful behavior, but we can love and befriend them anyhow. We'll stay close to family, and promote family values where we'll find support and strength."

It was time to board the plane. "Let's go home and do this," we all shouted.

We got on the plane and took our seats, but I was unsettled. I bowed my head and closed my eyes. I slipped deep into thought. With only one in power, our nation is not strong anymore. There's no strength in division--the divided states of America. No conviction, faith, or congruency.

And finally the prosperity. Our money, career, our very economy seems to be hanging by a thread. Most American's are unsure if tomorrow a recession or even a depression will ensue.

"I will not let my countries state get me down," I whispered to myself, looking up. "This is my country!" I looked around at the other passengers--completely unaware of my inner turmoil. I continued silently. It's protected by God as long as there are righteous among us--"Protect us by thy might, Great God our King," states one of my favorite hymns--My Country Tis of Thee. Our very National Anthem states, "Oh thus be it ever, when free men shall stand between their loved homes and the war's desolation." Then it hit me! Was Francis Scott Key also referring to a time more than 200 years in the future? The battle waged within America itself. The only way it could ever fall.

And then I sat up. Now back in my own bedroom--the dream! The tears were streaming down my face. My dream was true and real. There was a change. Not in the amount of tears, but the reason for the tears. My reason brought happiness, peace, and comfort back into my heart. Francis Scott Key did know! He had to know as he wrote the last verse of the Star Spangled Banner that it would span America for as long as she shall stand--even to present day! "Blest with victry and peace, may the heav'n rescued land praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation! Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, and this be our motto: in God is our trust! And the star spangled banner in triumph shall wave o're the land of the free and the home of the brave."

May all we American's enjoy our celebration of our independence. May we read and ponder the words of The Star Spangled Banner, America the Beautiful, and My Country Tis of Thee. Join with me (maybe not cry like me) but with your whole heart and soul appreciate the goodness, wholesomeness, prosperity, happiness, and comfort this great land has brought to us. We love America. This is our Country!