More than I can imagine, the events of 9/11 are still having a profound impact. Part of that impact is on me. No, I didn't lose a family member or friend, but I lost fellow-countrymen. Losing fellow citizens is a sad affair and worthy of our tearful remembrances.
This sad event and the aftermath of war and a changed world have sobered me to realize that my country, the United States of America, is more of a unique miracle than I had realized. Really..a miracle! What other country was founded on principles from the Bible, has received greater respect by those in the world who have risked it all just to get here, has been a greater sending station for help and support to countries who are friends or foes, has led the world in propagating the Good News of Jesus, has a method of governance where wrongs can be made right by laws rather than violence, and has been a willing, though much of the time, reluctant force against tyranny.
It is true that accused of being imperialistic or selfish does not mean we are. Col. Colin Powell once said that when our time is finished in a country where our armed forces have fought and died is the "only land we ever asked for was enough land to bury our dead.. You may think me naive, but name the country we've liberated or defeated where we've set up shop and stayed to rule. Even our enemies eventually receive aid and assistance from this nation. Why?
The answer is simple, really, and it is not an answer that was discovered recently. In fact, the Frenchman Alexis de Tocqueville stated in the late 1700's after returning from a tour of our nation, "America is great because she is good. If America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.”" Really? Could he have been mistaken? Aren't we the evil, selfish colonizers we are accused of being? I say, "No, we are not!"
Show me another nation so ready to come to the aid of other nations, so generous with food, money, and aid, so responsive to the oppression of those who are innocent of wrong. I didn't say we do the world-tour as aid-givers alone. We don't. But we are usually first and most generous and last to leave when our assistance is needed. I am not naive enough to think we are totally good or our motives are always right, but much of the evil intent or selfishness is on the part of misguided leaders not the population at large.
So, why write this blog post? At this crucial time in America's history let's not forget the truth in de Tocqueville's words. Let's stay good by being the people of God we are called to be, so that our love at home translates to loving the community, the nation, and the world. God's love is at the heart of what has made and, I pray, will again make America good...not perfect, but growing in goodness and forgiveness...overcoming our prejudice, our hatred, our gross generalizations of others in a certain demographic class.
This recognition of the greatness of God's love in making America great and good is at the heart of what led Carol and me out of the comfort of a position and a salary to go after the heart of the church of the Lord Jesus, to help where we can to be a blessing as we have been blessed, to give love away and equip others to "live loved and give love freely ... starting at home". That love...God's love..revealed in Christ Jesus....delivered by the Holy Spirit is what changed us, made America a good nation before, and must be restored if revival and healing and true greatness is to be seen in our land again. May it be and may the revival, healing, and greatness of life begin in me.
