Thanks to the Young

It is the week of the 4^th of July.   As a child growing up in Burlington, this was a week when many of the textile mills would close for the whole week  and people would head to their favorite vacation destination.    Though the textile mills have virtually disappeared from many towns like Burlington, this is a week when many will  be  heading away from home.  

Though I graduated from school many years ago,  I still have a desire to learn.   In recent months, I have become more interested in American history.   I have read books on American leaders like Truman and Eisenhower, and on times in American history like the American revolution.    As I have read about that period of time called the American revolution, there are two learnings that stick out for me.  

First, I discovered that the people that were the leaders in the early days of what we call now the United State of American were young men and women.  Did you know that Thomas Jefferson, the chief writer of the Declaration of Independence, was only 33 years old when he wrote it!     Many of the other leaders in the early days of this country were in their 30’s and 40’s.    It was a reminder to me of how important are the young people in our world today.    Long ago, the apostle Paul told his young friend in Christ, Timothy:  “Let no one despise your youth”.  Though I and many of my peers might think the ideas and thoughts of the young are not worth considering,  we need to listen to them.   Perhaps they are the incubator for a revolution that is sorely needed in our world and country!

Secondly,  I discovered as I read and listened to the story of the beginnings of this country that the founders of this country literally put their lives and future on the line in their yearnings for freedom and democracy.      They were citizens of colonies of England, and their words and actions were sometimes quite treasonous.    Yet, they felt so passionately about it that they were willing to put their lives on the line.   Some of the ideas that I see on social media and on the news these days sometimes seem extreme.    Perhaps we need to respect persons enough to listen to their opinions as they might hold truths we need to consider.  Have a joy-filled week and God bless.  – Pastor Randy Wall 

Prayer:   O God, I give you thanks in these days for those men and women who yearned for freedom and who founded this country.   Thank you for them and for all who carry the light of freedom in these days;  through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.