2 Chronicles 7:14 (NLT)

14 Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

While Freedom seems to be a straight forward concept seeing it lived out shows it as an odd paradox. It provides an ideal environment of choice leading to liberty, yet this environment is exactly why it is hated by others. At our strongest we see our Freedom protected by our Military of Veterans in the past and present, while preparing for a certain future of conflict against the Freedoms we have and share with one another. At our weakest we see our freedoms being divided and destroyed by the only people able to affect them – our neighboring citizens. It seems the biggest challenges to any group – Family, Education, Religion, Country …. come from inside the group itself. It brings a clarity to Abraham Lincoln’s quote   “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”  Our accomplishments in becoming the greatest nation on the earth while one of the youngest has in some ways made us prideful instead of proud and appreciative to God for his blessings. This weekend as we remember our veterans may the prayer of faithful citizens return our focus to our Author and Creator that He may heal and preserve this great nation.