Friday; November 10

 When you think about the United States Government, what comes to mind? It is easy to imagine the government as some well-oiled machine that keeps chugging along on a mission to keep the American people afloat, but the truth of the matter it is that government is the blend of polices and people. There are laws and standards that govern actions, but government is defined as the decisions of individuals. Interestingly, the same thing can be said about the Armed Forces. The American Armed Forces aren’t some machine that comes rolling out of a machine shed somewhere, they are the collection of men and women who have given of themselves to serve our nation. Sure, they have to work together to accomplish a common purpose, but they are individuals who have made a decision to put our collective national values ahead of their own personal quests.

Centuries ago, the Apostle Paul told the early Christians that they should invest in those things that help them succeed in their individual journey when he wrote, “Pay to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; respect to whom respect; honor to whom honor.” (Romans 13:7). Typically when we cite this verse we are compelling people to pay their taxes, but I believe it extends beyond the IRS. We should be willing to respect and honor those who are willing to put their lives on hold and their bodies on the line to keep us safe. So, on this Veterans Day, I would like to express my appreciation to those of you who have served our nation. Whether you saw combat on foreign fields or made sure our government ran smoothly and equitably on the home front, we appreciate your service. Thank you for what you have done. We hope you will live your lives in peace – not just in freedom from armed conflict, but with an emotional peace as well.

Think About It!

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