Successful

There was a time when leaders of this country reached compromises that served and protected this country, while brave men died on the battle for our freedom so we could control our own destiny. Our leaders in the beginning of this nation were not perfect by any means, but they wanted this nation to be a place where its people meet their potential and be great under God. We once carried coins with “In God We Trust”, and now there are those who want to exchange them for mere tokens for trollies destined for hell. Somehow we have come to a defining moment in history where it seems so many destructive forces are tearing down the very walls of our morality and once revered judicial system. There are secret societies in this world with people of great wealth wanting nothing else but to see our democracy fail.

So how does one destroy a democracy? Would it be ordering troops into the streets against its people? Would it be closing down the media and arresting the politicians? One could start with laws designed to frustrate and undermine a democracy. Carefully constructed laws could limit the freedoms found in our constitution, including law enforcement, the very people who have vowed to protect us. This is why we should be very concerned with the type of judges we place in our court systems.

Looking back in our history as a nation, we can see troubling signs related to events happening today. When our nation was started, we were “One Nation Under God.” So if we use some common sense, maybe things can become a little clearer. When people leave God out of their lives and do not follow his laws, life becomes much more complicated. Through the years we have seen more and more children raised with only one or no parent. In the sixties the sexual revolution started. Then came the use of illicit drugs. This nation loses approximately 72,000 young lives to the drug crisis annually. Thousands of children go to bed hungry each night. Our morals and self-worth continued to diminish. For years now, we have allowed the killing of full-term babies. Our respect for our judicial system has eroded. Our educational system has failed our children. Our Universities have become political hotbeds rather than hotbeds of learning. We cannot trust the evening news any longer. There are those that think socialism is better than capitalism. Our schools and universities failed on that history lesson.

Public health and safety has become a serious concern in our daily living. America is one nation, and we should start acting like one. I think the people of this nation who understand the constitution, who know our history, and who try to live their lives in the right way have been are very concerned about the direction this nation is going for a long time. One question that comes to my mind often is, “What kind of nation are leaving to our children?” That is a serious question? Who would have thought we would have come so far so quickly. Problems are not solved by finger-wagging, loud shouting, or an unwillingness to talk and compromise. How about responsible leaders stepping up, sitting down together, being accountable, using common sense and doing what is right in order to solve the many problems facing our nation. Is this not a principle of moral leadership?
Another question I would like ask is the following. Can a young child born into poverty without a mother, because she died at birth, become successful in life? When I was seven years old my father remarried, and because of turmoil in our home, I would roam the fields just to get away from the abuse. I would sneak off to the little country store down the road, and on my way I would pick up cigarette butts to smoke. When I became twelve, I ran away from home to live with my mother’s sister. She was a Christian. My Aunt loved, supported and prayed for me daily. Up until my ninth year in school, I could not read or write because I refused to study in school. I was headed totally in the wrong direction. Then a miracle happened. Three of my teachers gave me a challenge. My English, Math and History teachers said to me, “For you to catch up, we will stay one hour after school each day if you will start studying.” I was place back into the eighth grade and the catch-up began. From ninth to twelfth grades, I managed “A’s” in all subjects. So what turned of the light bulb for me? It was four Godly women.

I then went to college, graduated and became a pulmonary specialist in the field of medicine. The day I graduated all my tuition was paid in full. My tuition was paid on time each year because I worked many jobs throughout my high school and college days. Through God’s grace and many prayers, I became successful. So, I now ask the question. Can a young child born into poverty become successful today? I would hope the answer is “yes.” But today, a child may not be wanted so he/she is eliminated at birth or sooner. Once the child is accepted, he/she may have to live in home of illicit drug users and abused in all sorts of ways. There may not be anyone in their life to love, support and teach them the things to become successful.

So, what is meant by the word “successful?” Most people would say, “having the correct or desired result” and “having gotten or achieved wealth and respect.” And I agree this is a fair and honest definition, but there is more. If you believe in Christ’s teaching, then all material things we achieve in our life will be passed on to someone else when we die. Only how we view and value our souls matter. It is my prayer that all young people will seek the “true meaning” of success and look beyond the greed, immaturity and immoral acts of our government leaders today.

Bonefish