Provocations

By pbobby

What is Sacred to many may be anathema to others. Liberty* is sacred to most people in our civilized world. Yet there are those who would despotically defraud millions of this sacred gift from their Creator. The liberty to think, to choose, to do, and to cooperate with others toward a common goal are basic to our human franchise. Those who would dis-enfranchise us are myriad, some with charity and some with malevolence. However, Liberty must be for all to be Sacred. And without justice Liberty loses it's sacredness. Individuals may find an entity to be the sacred core of their existence, while others find something else to be the nucleus of their existence.

But, again I say that Liberty cannot exist unless there is Liberty and justice for all of us.

When my brother Ronny and I were three and four years of age, we learned the hard way that there were some limitations to our liberty. Most of them did not make sense to us. We thought afternoon naps were a waste of good daylight, but Momma seemed to enjoy them immensely. Pillow fights were not allowed just so we could not have great fun whaling away on each other. Nobody could get hurt, so we thought, until I knocked Ronny into the metal bedstead and chipped off the corner of his front tooth.

In the year of 1939, Western Kentucky had one of its finest snows in years. At that time we were living in an old frame house that had its own circulation system, especially in the winter. The cost of operation was low, and the cooling capacity was outstanding.

Bobby and Ronny wanted in the worst way to get out into that snow to play. It would stick together when we squashed it between our two hands. It made great balls for exciting battles. It was great for running, diving slides. Mamma had refused our every request to go play in the snow. All our moaning and whining were totally ignored. We had done all we could do to get Mamma's permission to go play in that cold white stuff. The answer was an emphatic "no." In fact, Mamma sent us to our room early for our nap, as punishment.

I don't remember which of us got the idea to raise a window and climb out for some real fun. But we did it!! One of us went first while the other stayed in to warn the one outside when Mamma's footsteps could be heard coming down the hall. Whenever one inside wanted out, he would huskily yell, "Here she comes!!" That would get both of us back inside, so the other could take a turn in the snow. It worked very well up until the phone rang. I could hear Mamma hang up the phone and head for our room with a clickity-clack pace. I yelled, but Ronny did not get back in time. The jig was up!! We knew Momma would tell Daddy when he came home, so he could be the bad guy that passes out the whippin's one more time.

We wondered who had called Mamma that fun day for quite some time. Our house was straight across US Highway 45, from Mr. Nichol's Barber Shop. Somehow we figured out that that phone call had come from just across the Highway. That's when we decided it was OK for Daddy to cut our hair. We just did not want to ever see Mr. Nichols again. So this incident came to be our first memorable clue that our Liberty had limits. We now knew for sure that we were not free to do whatever we wanted to without risking punishment.

The Year 2002 is destined to be a continuous battle for freedom and liberty versus tyranny and terrorism. It will be a bloody continuing worldwide war of Hate versus Love. And this all out war for power and control will not all be fought outside America. It will flourish within our land between our President and Congress, and between different races and special interest groups as well as worldwide terrorist organizations.

Vigilance and compassion will be our greatest defensive weapons against terror. Compassion creates community. In community we are strong and durable. Love your children - hold them close everyday. Do the same for all your other family members whenever possible. Go visit your neighbors whom you have never taken time to get to know. In your church and/or other groups you belong to, express your concerns for everyone you can. Write to someone in the service whether they are family or not. This is what Community is all about. Community is the creator of Unity and strength.

When terror comes from within or without our own people, we will already be more powerful than anything that can come our way. As we trust each other and bond with many other sacred souls, we will be richer in strength and spirit constantly. We do not need to be mending relationships when we face surprise attacks against us all. And if no heinous national attacks occur because of our vigilance, we will still be blessed, blessed because of all the new people we have invited into our lives.

Pray everyday for peace and goodwill around the world, because it will make you more loving toward yourself and others. The Christ is quoted as having said,

"Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you . . . for God makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and unjust."

If we do not espouse the above, surely our humanity will be lost along with all that is Sacred!

One act of betrayal requires myriad acts of love to restore trust. -pbobby-

*Liberty and Freedom are used in this article as one and the same except that Liberty has to be for all.