What Does It Mean To Be Independent?

With Independence day quickly approaching this question seems paramount. You see, independence is the ability to stand on your own. And a lot of things have to fall in place for that to happen. When it comes to countries it means a government has been instituted and is no longer ruled by another power.

We are not born independent. At birth we are completely dependent on the care of others. We have to be fed, clothed, sheltered, and educated. And even as adults we require these things to actually be free and independent. That's because independence requires that you think about the future and to plan ahead. Independence is what you get when we have our safety nets in place. If you don't have them in place you'll be struggling to make ends meet.

So as our freedom loving friends and neighbors prepare for fireworks and celebration don't forget to lend a helping hand. Independence is maintained when you protect the liberty and freedom of others. Every time you protect the freedom of someone else you protect your own as well. It's a giant game of altruism and common sense. And when you impose on the freedom and independence of others you also impose on your own. This is an important issue because in today's America there are people that want to control you and tell you what to think and say. And it isn't making things better. It's making them worse.

In today's society our ability to understand each other has been eroded. It's been worn down by ignorant "political" debates, the faithless twisting of our founding creeds, and the reluctance to fight for issues that might not effect you yet. I however consider myself a patriot and a Christian. So I prescribe to the time tested practice of following in Jesus foot steps. See Jesus was a pariah. An outcast that was ostracized but also loved by many. He didn't have the luxury of voting since they were ruled by kings. But one thing he did have was integrity. And that integrity was rooted in his love for mankind.

Now these safety nets I spoke of are very important. In fact, without them you'd still be poor and working for pennies a day. The most important one is the Constitution. Currently our Constitution is under attack by ultra right wing conservatives. But it could be anyone at any time. You see conservatism has morphed from the belief that good virtues and hard work are the best philosophy to live by into the belief that everyone has to do as you say or be persecuted. God really doesn't care about anyone's brand of conservatism. As our Heavenly Father and benevolent Creator he's actually quite liberal. And that should mean a great deal to you. His creativity is what leads us from one point of the timeline to the next.

So as you light fireworks and pray that you don't blow off your hand or spill your beverage, remember one thing. Freedom isn't about you doing whatever you want when you want. It's about making sure everyone can stand on their own and make new decisions day after day without persecution. It's about protecting the things that others wish to erode. It's about patriotism. Protecting the rights of the many. It's not about making sure people make decisions you're ok and comfortable with. It's about choices.

Now stop taking them away and give me a hug. I think uncle Dale just lit the fuse and he's got a beer in each hand. Better prepare to take cover and get EMS on the phone.

Happy Independence Day everyone!