For the next week I want to reflect on the freedoms in my life. There are so many that I just take for granted on most days without any thought. I want to remember what I have and to practice gratefulness in all areas of my life. It's just too darn easy to fall into the trap of expecting rights, that in light of history are actually hard earned privileges that can easily be taken away if I do not do my part in protecting and respecting them.Today I have been really thinking about my religious freedom. It is amazing to think about how it is possible in America to take part in any number of religious or spiritual groups without fear of harassment or being thrown in some horrible prison. And what makes my apathy about this even worse is that I've read countless books, watched numerous movies, and have even taught my kids lessons on the persecution that has happened through the ages. This is a subject that I am well acquainted with and yet on a daily basis I get so caught up in insignificant details that my mind is often blinded to the pure joy I should have in just being able to express my beliefs in whatever way I choose. What a beautiful thing. Something that should produce a daily happiness and yet I seem to rob myself of it all too often. So I am on a mission to regularly remind myself of the wonderful freedom I have. I am striving to remember the fragility of religious freedom and how very quickly it can be taken away. Here is what I'm going to use to ramp up our family's awareness of other cultures and religions. We have this beautiful book from 1944 to help us realize that other religious groups besides Christianity helped in the building of our country and I like to read aloud from this each July. And one of the best ways to help keep our gratitude is to delve into any number of resources on one of the many world wars that have been fought over religion. In school this past year we studied the middle ages and my goodness are there plenty of examples of religious persecution. Corrie Ten Boom's life has always been a favorite of mine also. It seems that every year I find new stories and biographies to learn from other people's lives and trials. To keep this freedom of religious expression involves constant practice of discipline to focus, remember and be grateful. It is not a simple thing to be able to go to church or synagogue or to even be an atheist in most of the world. In so many countries none of those would be an option. I wonder what I would do? I wonder how many of us would be able to hold up under intense persecution?
First Amendment to the constitution:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances
