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THE VIEW FROM MY PEW
I am sitting on a church pew
among my family and friends
in the comfort of my home town,
out where the blacktop ends.
I am thinking of the blessings
my Lord has given me;
the salvation of my soul...
my homeland's liberty.
I look to the man beside me,
cherishing the love we have,
when I see just past his profile...
through the window...our nation's flag.
I watch the colors, stars, and stripes
billow proudly in the air,
and I think of those who gave their lives
so I can see it waving there.
At first I am elated
that in this single place and time
I have tangible reminders
of these three great loves of mine.
Then a sadness washes over
as I think about the way
that my country now demands of me
to put my Lord away.
Our fathers avowed in stone and gold
the words, "in God we trust,"
and now we're being told
that freedom from God is a must.
There have been some unexpected changes
in the past two hundred years
to the freedoms that were paid for
with blood...with sweat...with tears.
The freedom to express discontent
with the governing powers that be
has become the freedom to profane...
to mock...to display pornography.
The freedom to choose where you work
and where you live
has become the freedom to take away
the life you didn't mean to give give.
The freedom to pray, teach, and praise
our Holy Father and his Son
must be a private practice now
lest we offend even one.
I think of all our nation's judges
in their respectable positions
who have changed our freedoms year by year
with their precedent-setting decisions.
I ask you, honorable Supreme Court Justices
and lawmakers everywhere.
From here on my church pew, I can see my country's flag.
But can you see the cross from there?
I think of our highly educated surgeons
performing "miracles" every day.
Then I think of those who use their skills
to take little "miracles" away.
I ask you, doctors and medical staff
in abortion clinics everywhere,
From here on my church pew, I can honor my country's flag.
But can you honor the cross from there?
I think about our public school teachers
trying to educate a nation.
Who now no longer have the right
to even theorize "creation."
I ask you, board members and administrators
in public schools everywhere.
From here on my church pew, I can respect my country's flag.
But can you respect the cross from there?
When I think of the recent policies and laws
our elected officials have made,
I know that, sadly, they reflect a people
whose vision has begun to fade.
Do we really believe God's patience
will simply stretch...and twist...and bend?
Can we be so sure that "majority rules"
will hold up in the end?
I ask my fellow Americans,
so "free" and "loving life" out there,
From here on my church pew, I can cherish my country's flag.
But can you cherish the cross from there?
By Pam Keaton
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