THE BLOG

My wife and I live in a subdivision of cottage style homes where our Home Owner’s Association annual dues provides for our lawn care—all except for fertilization and weed control. As a courtesy to our residents, fertilization and weed control is available with a group discount to those residents who voluntarily sign up and pay for it. The vast majority of residents signed up for the program last fall. As the last twelve months have gone by, it has been interesting to note how obvious it has become who did and did not sign up for the program. Why so obvious?

One of the special gifts we can give ourselves is to take the time to read the writings of someone much smarter than we are so that we can be challenged to think and ponder life at a depth we may not have previously plumbed. A couple of years ago I gave myself such a gift when I read Gregory Koukl’s book The Story of Reality: How the World Began, How It Ends, and Everything Important That Happens in Between. His book challenged me to put together an important understanding of a question which life seemingly compels us to ask and answer, variously phrased as: Why am I here? Why do I exist? What is my purpose in life?

In just a few days our nation will celebrate its 243rd birthday. One of the challenges we will face will be making sure we are grateful for the price our nation’s forefathers and any military after them were willing pay to secure and maintain our freedom. We would do well sometime that day to consider what a big-gulp moment it was for each of those patriots as they one by one stepped up to sign the Declaration of Independence. We would do well to reflect on the price many Americans have paid fighting numerous wars since then in order to preserve our freedom. In the midst of our flag waving and fire cracker popping this next Thursday, let’s allow the following information to stimulate gratitude in us for the price so many have paid.