Dear Friends,
As I look outside my window this morning, I see an array of small American
flags surrounding our property. They were planted yesterday by my grandchildren
in preparation of today’s celebration of Memorial Day. I am proud and grateful
for those flags which always remind me of the great price that was paid for the
freedoms we enjoy.
As I thought about our great nation, and the price that has been
paid for those cherished freedoms, I was sadly reminded of the current state of
our nation. With the unfolding violence that is taken over our streets and
schools, I wonder how much longer these cherished freedoms will continue to
exist.
I then listened to a Memorial Day message that was sent to me by a
friend that was preached yesterday in his church. It was a wonderful reminder
of our nation’s greatest need-a need for prayer.
We have removed prayer from our schools, and the halls of
government, and we wonder why we are presently reaping the consequences of our
actions. America’s greatest need is the need for prayer.
Only prayer can unify our nation and bring our people and our leaders
together. This was especially reinforced as I listened to the sermon which
included a speech that was given by Benjamin Franklin at the Constitutional
Congress.
His words are as appropriate for us today as they were when he spoke
to them.
“This situation of this Assembly groping as it were in the dark to
find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when to us, how has it
happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the
Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the
contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayer
in this room for the Divine Protection. -- Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and
they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must
have observed frequent instances of a Superintending providence in our favor.
To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on
the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now
forgotten that powerful friend? Or do we imagine that we no longer need His
assistance. I have lived, Sir, a long time and the longer I live, the more
convincing proofs I see of this truth -- that God governs in the affairs of
men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it
probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in
the sacred writings that "except the Lord build they labor in vain that
build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring
aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of
Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects
will be confounded, and we ourselves shall be become a reproach and a bye word
down to future age. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter this unfortunate
instance, despair of establishing Governments by Human Wisdom, and leave it to
chance, war, and conquest. I therefore beg leave to move -- that henceforth
prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our
deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to
business, and that one or more of the Clergy of this City be requested to
officiate in that service.”
Would that we as a nation recognize this call to prayer and would
we take a few moments to give thanks that we live in the greatest nation in the
world. But at the same time would we also recognize that our nation will only
remain that way if we acknowledge that "Unless the Lord builds the house, they
that labor will only labor in vain.” Psalm 127:1
May we take a few moments today to fall on our knees and pray for
our nation’s spiritual revival.
Yours in faith and friendship,
Tom
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