Time Brings About a Change...

My mom often said  little "Proverbial mom-isms".

"Time brings about a change".

What does this mean? (A good question from the catechism).

Answer: Simple! Things change with time.

Riding in Oak Park in my 4th July Tee. The police followed a bit.

This blog was originally created as a requirement for my EDU560 class from Dominican University. (Great class, by the way). As stated in a previous post, now that the class is complete... I simply
couldn't let it die... So, it's original intent has changed with time :-)

We travel back to Batavia, IL, our home of nearly 15 years; for fireworks every Fourth of July, (the best). We anticipate over-eating from the concession stands, (we must have kettle-corn from that giant black cauldron). We buy over-priced glow-sticks to wave and dance about as children work themselves into a frenzy - getting excited as the fireflies come out. We listen to music so carefully orchestrated to match each kaboom! (Off this year). We "oo and ah" with each flashing spectacle of color-filled lights - commemorating our nations birth.

Does anyone remember how old she is? 

Batavia, IL fireworks - the BEST!

Does anybody remember exactly why we celebrate? Or has it become just another day to gather among friends and family around the open pit of fire to offer the sacrificial meat, share a brew or two and throw the sacred disk through the air... Only to gather at night in an open park, laying down on plaid fleece blankets, (after spraying bug repellent everywhere) - looking up into the darken sky to see the 'flashing spectacle of color-filled lights' - across the night sky...

Just change the setting and it could be Christmas or Easter or even Thanksgiving... 

I'm not saying any of this is wrong. Let me be the first to say I think it's great that we gather with friends and family to share meals and good times, (we should do this every week or so), but; because we gather on a specific day, does any one stop to ponder the why. Surely, we don't need a reason to gather with friends and family - which is kind of my point. It doesn't seem like we have a reason anymore...

Before the start of the fireworks show, you hear the garbled voice of the announcer for everyone to stand for the national anthem... The majority of people stand, but not everyone. Men and boys no longer remove their caps, but worse, many people don't sing the anthem. Many people simply stand and continue their conversations as children continue their play with the glow-sticks. It's like we have been conditioned to stand, because this is what we must do to start the fireworks, but; respect, remembering, being reverent ... Nope, not necessary.

I pondered how much has changed with our nation, just this year...

Core values... Long gone. The core was the family, but the family has left the building with Elvis.

Moral code - Really!?! Ethics - determined more by the media than what we inherently know to be true and right - we lay down and play dead to those who have no right making such determinations - we are subjugated. Of course, the, to whom is a very BIG question.

Shared common belief - Remember, "...One nation under God...". Are we a nation? Are we under God any more? What does this mean? (I love this question). That would mean, we submit to God - but no one seems to concur on this topic. Yes, I have a definite opinion, but this post is simply for sharing questions for you to chew on - that's what it means to ponder - to chew upon like jerky or rawhide, (this is my definition - not Webster's).

In truth has anything really changed since the beginning of time? "...There is no new thing under the sun." Ecclesiastes 1:9. So, why am I dismayed? Why am I disappointed... Because it feels as if we have moved so far to the left, so far away from true north...

Am I alone with this view? I felt so overwhelmed when I looked around during the fireworks - even the music seemed off this year. It's like there are folks who see what's going on, but like the sound it's all muffled, garbled. There is a dis-connect. No one hears, no one understands, no one says, "Wait a minute; we're missing something" - something that's supposed to connect what we're seeing up in the sky... the 'flashing spectacle of color-filled lights'...

...Should the good Lord tarry, there will be another Fourth of July. I wonder what will be different then - to be sure, it will be nothing new under the sun - maybe worst, maybe better.

I'm hopeful - we can make a difference - one pebble in the container at a time.

Mom also said, "It's a good life, if you don't weaken"

Stay strong - Finish strong!