THE PATH OF A NATION

On Thursday, May 15, 2008, the California Supreme Court struck down the state’s ban on same-sex marriage. It was a broadly worded decision that would basically invalidate any law that discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation. This makes California’s high court the first in the nation to adopt such a standard. Governor Schwarzenegger said he respects the court’s ruling. L.A.’s Mayor Villaraigosa, in support of the ruling, said he would officiate at same-sex weddings. He said, “This is about people and the right for people to love who they want,” he told The Los Angeles Times. It seems like the entire state of California was celebrating over this decision. The gay and lesbian community is planning all kinds of celebration throughout the entire state.

Where is our nation headed? How did we get here? Was this what our founding fathers had in mind? These were just a few of the questions that came to mind when I heard the news this past week. This same country, which was originally founded in Christian principles, now stands with fist to heaven in defiance of the very God who made its existence possible!

Recently, I received an e-mail with a very interesting historical story concerning the Washington Monument. Once I made sure that it was legit, I was captivated by it. This monument, of course, honors of our first President, George Washington. According to Wikipedia Encyclopedia Online, the actual construction began in 1848, but was not completed until 1884, almost 30 years after the architect’s death. Part of that was due to lack of funding and the American Civil War. Of all the interesting and wonderful things regarding the monument, the most amazing is the capstone at the very top of the monument. It is pyramidal in shape and has a tip made of aluminum, which at that time was a very rare metal, valued about the same as silver. On the capstone itself are four inscriptions. The north, south, and west faces of the capstone have basic information concerning important dates and basic information about the building of the monument. On the pyramid face which faces east, at 555 feet above the ground and facing skyward, there is an inscription of only two words in Latin, Laus Deo, which simply means “Praise be to God”!

What a contrast and oxymoron to what we see and hear going on in our nation! Etched in stone, atop one of our nation’s most important monument is a phrase that is meant to glorify God! Is this possible? Why is it that this small, yet powerful piece of information is not shared within the textbooks of our schools? With all the shootings and killings that go on every day, with all the controversies that plague our very freedoms, with all the indifferences and biases toward Christianity, is our nation really “Praising God” in all this? Somehow I doubt it. Yet, this was the path that our nation was meant to walk. Such was the moral direction and spiritual mood of our nation in its early years! Laus Deo, Praise be to God, was the outcry of our founding father and first President of our country!

Here is a prayer offered by George Washington for our country:

'Almighty God; We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection; that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government; and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large. And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.'
Laus Deo!

I wonder if any of our current presidential nominees would ever hope to say something to the effect of recognizing and honoring God for the opportunity to serve this country’s highest office! Somehow I doubt it!

5/18/2008
James