I got a ticket

I got a ticket.

That fateful day has finally come. Ten over the speed limit, resulting in a one hundred and twenty dollar loss.

I don't tell you this because I think anyone out there really cares, but because after some venting, I've come to realize that this is a blessing in disguise. This event helped me come to a realization, that really put my life and my thoughts, into perspective.

Each person struggles with at least one thing, and a prevalent one in my daily life is pride. I take pride in anything I possibly can. I take my heart, which is made complete by and with God, and still try to fill it as though it hasn't been filled already. I take something as small as being a good speller, and what do I do? I magnify it into something greater than what it is, I hold on to it dearly as something that makes me "complete".

Something to be proud of is one thing, but when we turn this into an idol, something needs to change. I have taken my pride, and turned it into an idol. I take so much pride in things I do, I tend to find my identity in those things. An important question posed by a close friend of mine was, " Who is your hero?". Most probably go straight to Batman or Superman, but as Christians, it needs to be Jesus. We need to look to Jesus as our role model, our savior, and our hero. Our identity needs to be completely found in God, because without him we are nothing. As Job says "The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away." As much as we like to think we control our lives, we simply don't.

So what does any of the above have to do with a traffic ticket you ask? Simple, everything. My driving record has been cleaner than a fresh snowfall, for the nearly 6 years I have been driving. This is the reason for this whole post. Just yesterday, I was boasting about my clean driving record. I was taking pride in the fact that I was such a good driver, I'd never gotten a ticket. I was placing my identity in my driving ability. And then what happens less than twenty four hours later? Bam! God slaps me in the forehead, in the classic "should've had a V8" fashion, and gave me the reality check I'd been needing. He brought light to a problem in my heart that needs to fixed. He showed me that it doesn't matter what I do, but what He has done.

While I can't say I'm a big fan of the large price I have to pay for speeding, its a small price to pay to be reminded of who He is, and what He has done for me.

Remember

A little poem I wrote called 

"Remember"

 It's a calm, clear, bright and windy night.

Nothing seems wrong, it all seems so right.

Around the world, there is plenty of fear.

But not in America, there is none of that here.

Land of the free, home of the brave

Number one in the world

The one who guards and who saves.

For freedom we fight, in the darkness a light

Dying for strangers, by day and by night.

 Now some disagree by the way that we live

For freedom is a thing, that they simply don't give.

Rules and stipulations on women and child

Harsh and horrid punishments, ever so wild.

Religion is no choice, jihad or death

All convert now, or else, final rest.

These very ideals, are the ones that we fight.

The very ideals, made to cause so much fright,

They were played out that morning, in the form of a flight.

 That fateful morning, on September Eleven

The country was changed, many saw heaven.

It shook us, and took us, to a fearful state

"This can not be happening",  "this can't be our fate".

Now we must rise up and rebuild, our United States.

 Many had died, many gave all,

For those in the towers, that once stood so tall.

The point I want to get, is simple and true.

For those of 9/11

We Will Never Forget You.

An Independence Hangover

 In the wake of the greatest day in American history, 238 years sure have changed a lot. I can't help but notice the common trends of every "4th" in the nineteen years I have been alive. For me, it has always been celebrating my freedom and appreciating those who placed that freedom in my life (along with blowing stuff up). This would seem to be a typical review of an Independence celebration, until you look closer and think harder. 

 As I continued my daily brain-numbing Facebook meandering, I noticed all of the "drunk photos" or "post party videos". Now granted, you have to expect red blooded Americans to celebrate the day that allows them to celebrate, but are we losing focus of what we are celebrating? 

 As a society based on freedom, all you have to do is turn on the T.V. to see a "right" being attacked. Constantly someone, somewhere is on the verge of losing a freedom.  Why do we all of the sudden forget about this on the "4th", the day devoted to recognizing freedom, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?

 I, for one, love: my God, my bible, and my gun. And I will not let anyone take these from me. So why are we losing sight of this on the "4th"? I propose that we as American citizens, citizens of the greatest nation on earth, change this.

 Spend less time getting "turnt up" or "sloshed" or whatever you want to label it, and spend more time realizing why we have this day. Remember the thousands of people who died for this day. Died for you to have another reason to get drunk and party. Use this day to celebrate your freedom, not take advantage of it. And remember every day that Freedom is not Free.