July Fourth, 2007
07:44, Thursday, July 5, 2007 ..
Last evening we had several of the kids over for dinner and to celebrate the 4th of July. I cooked BBQ pork and a few side dishes; I should say I cooked WAY too much for the number of people we ended up with. Granted, in my defense, rumors circulated that there may be very many more than we actually had. And college kids have ravenous appetites most of the time. Following dinner we walked up to Tweetsie Railroad and watched their fireworks display, came back t the cabins and of course the kids had a few of their own.
As we were on the return hike from Tweetsie back home, the bulk of the kids were ahead of us. I could not help but to notice what an odd bunch they had thrown together as friends. The incessant extrovert, the meager quiet one, the total introvert, the vixen, and then you have the adventurer and the road warrior. Not what anyone would look out across the masses and think… “that’s the team I want to put together!” Yet, it is a team of friends that seems to have melded cohesively and well together with only a few common points of tangent binding them.
As my mind drifted a bit further I realized that it may not be the common points of tangent binding them, rather the uniqities they each have from the others and the desire to find strengths to shelter themselves from their own weaknesses.
I look back at the founding fathers of America; they had little in common either. The only tangent they had in common being a dream of a nation that would succeed and grant unalienable rights to future generations. They declared freedom from what they saw as tyranny and unjust expressions of servitude and were willing to die for a principle.
I look at today’s American Society and wonder if there are people who can measure up to the standards of old and often fear for our nation’s future. Yet, I look at a handful of college kids and see some stark similarities in them and our founding fathers. Maybe hope will survive and the differences we have among us will once again prove the strength to stand up to corruption and evil in the world. Maybe that hope will rear its head soon and put true servants of the people into positions of government come our next election cycle.
Maybe the opportunity to be a shining light on the hill will once again return to our nation and we will celebrate next July 4th not with fireworks, but with a warm embrace of the life America was intended to be.
Until then, here’s hoping for the future!
Happy 4th
14:30, Thursday, July 5, 2007 .. Posted by Auburnhairedartist
Your day seems so blissfully peaceful compared to the rowdiness and excitement that comes with little ones who just want to blow something up !!! I’ll be hearing horror stories for days!
I always feel hopeful when I’m surrounded by young people. Even when they seem a little wild and hard to figure out, their youth and energy has endless possibilities and I choose to believe that it will lead to good things, interesting things, at the very least.
I think that they are very lucky that they have someone like you in their lives right now. I think that they probably feel that way too. After all, they aren’t children,and who they surround themselves with, is a matter of choice. All that I really know of you and scott, are your blogs and writtings – yet they give me an overwhelming sense of peace, comfort, and acceptance. [ I'm going to name my next teddy bear after you. ] The fact that they have you and Scot as mentors, even for a short time, adds to my confidence in the future.
love ya,
Susan
