AmeriCANs

It seems that whenever I bike it puts me in a nostalgic mood. There is something about cruising through cornfields and neighborhoods that makes me think of America. I listen to many styles of music as I ride, from 1940's big bands, oldies from the 50's to moving praise songs and upbeat Christian pop. As this wide variety randomly plays through my travels it takes me back to another time or place. There is so much great about our country, but in our crazy busy lives we sometimes forget. I love the different sites I come across; horseback riders, kids playing outside, people hard at work in their yard or farm; splashing in a pool, even a cute dog hanging out the window of a car at a stoplight (and the driver even saying hello), a baseball field being built, a soccer game being played, families of all ages on a walk or bike ride together, and the list goes on.

Sometimes I long for the the days before my time..pioneer days, or the 1940's, 1950's when life was simpler. I love all the advances in technology and practical everyday inventions we have now, but sometimes they get in the way. We don't have the leisure and patience of old, nor sometimes the creativity kids had when they had to make up their own fun.

American's are can do people. We started this country with a strong pioneer spirit and to some extent that ethic is still with us. The immigrants that arrived on Ellis Island with nothing but a few belongings and their family, then go on to build a life, a business, a legacy. The young boy in the slums works hard at school and life and pulls himself out of poverty and builds a life for himself and his family. A single parent working hard to better the life for her children. If we stop watching the news and just watch our neighborhoods we see America. People working hard, taking care of their kids, helping their neighbor on a project, bringing a meal to someone in need, that's what America is. I love how when people are in need, the churches and communities jump right in to help.

The 11th anniversary of 911 is tomorrow. Do you remember how we all came together as one nation? Nothing mattered but standing up for our nation and taking care of each other. The things that really matter in life are right here in our schools and churches and towns; the people in our lives. At times we seem to lose our way, some times longer than others, but we always seem to fight back to where we belong. Everyday life in America is a precious thing.
Our country was founded as a great experiment. We are one of a kind, and I hope and pray we can keep what was built over 200 years ago. We can do it, if we remember what this country means and stand true to our founding fathers dreams. We need more patriots and patriotism in America. We need not apologize for our place in the world and all the good we have done. (yes I know there are dark days in our past, but we are human and far from perfect) We need to teach our kids history so they know where they come from. It's good to keep ethnic traditions and identities, but we need to remember we are one nation..together...not divided. We are people, created by God, and it matters not what color or size we are, culture, beliefs,or background we come from, we're just people. Americans. This country was founded by faithful men seeking to honor God and give rights and freedoms to the people. I'm thankful they sacrificed so much for our sake.

President Woodrow Wilson said,
"A nation which does not remember what it was yesterday, does not know what it is today, nor what it is trying to do. We are trying to do a futile thing if we don’t know where we have come from or what we have been about."