A couple of weeks ago, I realized that I was hearing something being said and asked in different forms, again and again, and it was along the lines of, “Ok. I get it. Now what?”Our son put it this way, “Mom, I’m overloaded with information. I understand all the stuff that’s wrong. Figuratively speaking, I’ve unholstered my weapon and now I need to know where to aim it.”
Intellectually and philosophically, a whole bunch of patriots are feeling all dressed up and anxious to know, exactly, where they are supposed to go. There’s a time of transition that is uncomfortable.
A friend put it to me this way in an email:
I (am) wondering–why bother keeping up with what is going on in congress, or even the rest of the world?
What is the point of petitions, letters, emails, etc? Please do not misunderstand me–I am NOT speaking out of despair but a growing sense of realism, and awareness of my own limited abilities.
–I had felt that continuing protest is where I should put my efforts, but now I don’t know: is that really the best use of my energies/time?
–I thought that being encouraging and supportive on blogs was where I should put my efforts, but is that giving a false sense of security?
–I had felt that passing news along was where I should put my efforts, but now I am wondering: what is the use of passing on information that may only cause despair and/or paralysis in those who receive it?
The second and third are probably more justifiable than the first, but if I do not also lay out “ways” in which people can become mobilized to object and speak out, then I’m not sure about the point of continuing–that would mean that “being heard” was the only justification for posting, which would be self-centered and borderline narcissism.
How do we function and think…. as individuals… now that we’re swirling toward a Class V rapid, understanding that we are no longer in a position to choose another route around the bend just ahead which conceals our future?
- Confidence — Be deliberately independent of others
- Wisdom — Know the difference between healthy independence and necessary interdependence; don’t insist on independence when it is unnecessary and unwise
- Faithfulness — Be willing to examine and discern the quality of my own integrity, and
be honest about limits regarding faithfulness to God or Constitutional causes–see them and deal with them. - Engagement — personal and practical engagement with the guiding Spirit of the thrice-holy God is essential; don’t act like it’s not.
- Courage — to assert boundaries; don’t become part of some new lemming thing
- Generosity — regarding others’ limitations and compassion for where they are starting from, especially if they started late and are now alarmed by what they are perceiving
- Endurance — be willing to stand alone; don’t assume I must but be willing to
So that was my list, and since I prepared it, I’ve been gleaning from the writings of others, both in the Treehouse and elsewhere, and learning what they think.
What I’ve discovered is two fold.
There’s a striking similarity in what a whole lot of good people are thinking, and what they said needs to have a little larger audience than it may have gotten the first time around.
What follows are excerpts, in no particular order. Each can stand on its own and is worthy of consideration as an individual quote from recent comments of your fellow patriots. Read. Enjoy. Be strengthened. Pass it on. (some added emphasis mine)
Peruvian Mom gave us this great quote in a comment….
Submitted on 2013/07/18 at 2:43 pm | In reply to Occigent.
I was awake and cognizant during the Army McCarthy hearings, remember the Red Scare, also the Kennedy kickback, the Great Society, on to the Great Raygun Rumpus, Bush lip watching, Clintonian sheep’s clothing, Bush Front(cabal in back), Now O’Bama Front(cabal in back)… In my life-time it has Always been “self appointed chess masters”, per Rashomon above.
To my historical knowledge, it has also always been so in my country. In the Great Power-Chess Game in our country, based as it is on conflict politics, there has always been the risk of two extreme outcomes: one side gains decisive power over any other, thus over all of us…OR a dominant side over plays their hand and the game collapses into societal chaos and we all lose…the crises points have occurred at between 20 and 30 year intervals. I guess I could keep my rifle loaded and hunker down in the bushes personally, that is not an reasonable alternative for the pursuit of happiness or domestic tranquility of All of us.
The fabric of our Social Contract is again at Great Risk. The discussions amongst Us leading up to our Revolution, Civil War, Great Depression,…. well fellow citizens, why is it we roost Here?
“Ragtag misfits”, not knee jerk ideologues, may help enough off the bloody battle field to keep the coherence of our nation alive so We may survive to carry on… Abandon all ideology. Love one another, support one another, seek to do that which is good, Do no harm….
–Spar Harmony
This is part of my email response to a friend who was asking some of the questions:
An element of blog participation is that – we never know who we are encouraging and thus making it possible for them to stay on their feet.
We have no idea how God is going to use someone who was kept going because we provided the right nudge, the best-timed hug, a perfect quote, or even the right rebuke.
Keep your chin up and your eyes clear. Keep your focus on the end goal, and on the Truth. With all that is going on these days, I’m seeing things more and more differently. I no longer believe this is about politics, or our country. I think it is bigger than that. I don’t even think it is about rights and freedoms, although they will play a large part in the conflict and are also instrumental in the final picture. I think what this really is about is our SOULS. This is Good vs Evil on a scale much bigger than anything anyone has ever seen before.I made a comment on the Belmont Club the other day that I really do think this is for all the marbles. I’ve never, ever seen anything in our country before to believe that people could knowingly and willfully support anyone who said that Mary should have aborted Jesus, and chant “Hail Satan” as a counter-protest to a pro-life demonstration. I’ve never before seen that out of anyone, ever, even hard core, militant atheists.
I’m also not sure we win this fight. I can’t see any way we do, short of large-scale, specific, Divine intervention. I can’t really see a way the country comes through in one piece. I don’t know that democracy survives anywhere either. These thoughts should really bring me down, but somehow they don’t. Maybe they remind me that there is an overall purpose, there is a plan, and we know who wins in the end? I don’t know. I’m less fearful, and more energized. I’m going to do my part for the side of Good, as much as I am able. I pray to God every day that I know what is right when the time comes to make instant decisions.“Lord, help me to remember what you have taught me, help me to think clearly, and have mercy on me, a poor sinner.”Come Hell or high water, we’re going to get through this, even if it costs us our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor. I fear it is Hell, and that it will cost me all of it, and I hope and pray I keep true in the face of it all. The good news is, all this has been preached before, and we know how it all ends. In the worst case scenario, we rejoin our loved ones a little sooner. In anything less than the worst case scenario, it isn’t all that bad, and we’ve got a good chance. We still have a core of faithful folk who do know right from wrong, who do know how to produce and make things, how to get things done. We have more people awake now in this country than have been since the Civil War, if not the Revolutionary War.We will not go quietly into that dark night. We will fight for every inch of ground, with the certain knowledge of Justice and Truth on our side, defending our Rights, defending our land, defending our progeny. We will make such a stand that choirs of angels shall sing of the honor, the glories, and the sacrifices of that day for all time to come. We may lose the battle, but we shall win the war. It will not be any fun, but that won’t stop us.
I look forward to meeting you someday, and Sundance, and all the rest, even if it isn’t on this mortal soil. Keep your powder dry, your feet firmly planted, and hold tight to your will. Use every tool bestowed upon us, including the righteous fury to sustain your energy, and always keep your eye fixed on Heaven and His Will. God’s speed, and God Bless
Consider the tapestry which comes from threads–threads of all kinds (including blog threads) create a tapestry which is yet to be understood or brought into perspective.
Guard your spirit in these days. What you are putting into your mind and heart will have everything to do with your level of strength and courage, wisdom and endurance, compassion and discernment. This is no game, and warriors with healthy spirits are needed to effectively engage the battle that has been effectively launched against our Republic.
Here are the last four lines of the fourth verse of the Star Spangled Banner:
And this be our motto – ‘In God is our trust!’
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave.
