Blessed are the Loved.

“Blessed is the influence of one true, loving human soul on another.” -George Eliot

Though everyday should be considered a blessing, today above all other days should be cherished as such. Though my life has already been far beyond blessed, today was a blessing in itself. It is the first Christmas is a very long time that all the presents fit under one glowing tree. The thought makes me stomach turn and my heart smile. Turn not because I miss them, but because it saddens me that it has taken us so long to learn the fruitfulness of moderation. To be truthful, we are still far from moderate, but today was a step. My cousins are still young and as it seems my have trouble with the concept, but I trust they will soon face themselves and understand the true grace that can come from no package that is bought from no store. Because I am human, I am still guilty of want, and always will be. So many times today my heart has broken when a gift is open and then gone unacknowledged by the recipient. How glad should we be to be in a warm home, with an abundance or food, love and family. I hope the pill in our home shrinks with time and age and eventually be grown to move into a different household where it will be needed and received gratefully. Our household is complete without a single gift, and yet today I feel as though I have been given the world. Every smile, every laugh, every moment feels better in his arms. And in his arms I hope to stay. He is truly a gift in my life. I don't mean to be cliche or to weigh this love against the love I have for my family. It is simply that the love I share with him reminds me daily that love must not only be cherished, but spread to whom ever will accept it. Never should it be put in a box with a bow on top. One day the holidays will again be about love. About the influence one heart can make on another.

Jesus Talk

"Christianity neither is, nor ever was a part of the common law." -Jefferson

Would the world be a better place with or without America? It hard to argue that it would be better place without our nation, but that doesn't mean we should praise ourselves for 'our glorious nation.' We've done great things in the past. We have also done awful things. And more recently it can be argued that we've done more harm then good. The reason the world is a better place with the United States is not because we are by default 'Americans,' it is because we as individuals have the will and the opportunity to speak out against what they believe is wrong. I was told it is because the freedom that is granted to us by God is protected by the declaration of independence. I can't understand that version of freedom. Granted by someone or something else? Freedom to me, like so many other things, is a choice. I can choose to to be submissive to another persons will, but instead I choose to be free. The human right that is granted by free will - that freedom is protected by the constitution. (Mind you the declaration of independence holds no weight in our government and is more of a whine list about the king.) Further more our founding fathers were deist so freedom granted by God would be questionable. Jefferson him self said

"Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because if there be one he must approve of the homage of reason more than that of blindfolded fear."

I have no problem with people believing in God, but the blindfolded faith Jefferson speaks of is what keeps individuals complacent. One of the most dangerous states of being. It is this faith that burned innocent men, women, and children at the steak. It is this faith that begins wars 'in the name of Christ' and in the cost of others. It is this faith that condemns those who do not fit the outline of religious perfection (which should be everyone but only seems to be the select few). It is the faith, however, that enslaves entire races, and then frees them.

The power of America is not God given freedom, but the ever lasting opportunity to change. Christianity or all kinds, along with thousands of other religious organizations will never vanish. The hope is that there will also always be those individuals that question the wrong of the world and challenge those who say things can not change.