Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…
“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.”
Matthew 7: 12 (NLT)“The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Luke 10: 27 (NLT)
It looks like the Tribute in Light in New York City is back on.
That’s a good thing—remembering that moment then, and drawing us together now as we are in the midst of the uncertainty of Covid 19, angry and violent protests, the lack of respect, or a sense of duty and civility in our neighborhoods, and in halls of government at all levels and locations, in sports, business and beyond.
As a nation and individually today, we need all the moments pointing to hope and unity which we can muster.
And when the columns of light shine upward that day and night of September 11, we will all be drawn closer to hope and closer to each other.
That’s a good thing.
I got another dose of hope the other night watching the actual recorded footage of the cowardly attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
Of course, it wasn’t the devastation and loss that provided the hope, but the heroic, selfless actions of our men and women under attack there as they stood up and fought back, and tried to save the lives of others from the watery grave so many suffered.
It reminded me, once again, of why I stand respectfully and sing during the playing of our National Anthem, or when the colors come by, or when we pledge allegiance to the flag of our country.
To honor those who earned the right for me to sit here safely to write and share these thoughts with you, and for you to read them in the security of wherever you are.
We have come a long way as the United States of America, and we have more to do and more roads to travel together to be all who God created us to be.
We cannot rest, or stop or stand quiet, until all within this great Nation have the same opportunities to live the lives God created each of us to live, and are all treated very simply—as precious children of God.
We can do this together under the guiding and watchful eye of God and hand-in-hand, rather than with sticks-and-stones which some seem to prefer.
And on the journey we would do well to remember, and repeat often, the words of Christ recorded in the Gospel of Matthew—
“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.”
And the words of the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered on Christmas day, in 1957, in a sermon called “Loving Your Enemies,” at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, and then again at the Washington National Cathedral, on March 31, 1968, when he said—
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
And when those two columns of light shine once again on September 11, 2020, remembering that day and honoring those who lost their lives, and the heroic efforts of many who sought to save others—we can take comfort in the remarks of the Reverend Billy Graham given at the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance on Friday, September 14, 2001 calling us forth together then, and forever when he said—
“Underneath the debris is a foundation that was not destroyed. Now we have a choice: Whether to implode and disintegrate emotionally and spiritually as a people and a nation, or whether we choose to become stronger through all of this struggle to rebuild on a solid foundation.”
Then he concluded by saying—
“And I believe that we are in the process of starting to rebuild the foundation. That foundation is our trust in God.”
My friends, in the midst of all we are going through as a nation—this is a time once again for American heroes.
Together we can do this. We always have.
Together we will strive to become the best we can be in every place and moment—for everyone.
We will achieve what is great. We always have.
And when we do that together— we will touch the face of God.
A good thing.
In His Name–Scott
