I was presented the “I Dare You” award at my senior awards assembly in High School. The award came with a copy of the book bearing the same title, written by William H. Danforth. Mr. Danforth was the founder of Ralston-Purina and co-founder of the American Youth Foundation. Mr. Danforth proposed in his book that four key components in life must be in balance: physical, mental, social, and religious. The criteria for award eligibility include demonstrating a commitment to discovering and developing one’s personal best, living a balanced life, and making a difference in one’s community.
In the film Saving Private Ryan, Captain John Miller is ordered to locate and safely return a young soldier whose brothers had all been killed in action. Private Ryan is found with a squadron of weary soldiers trying to prevent the enemy from taking a bridge strategic to the war effort. Instead of taking Private Ryan away from the danger, Captain Miller and his men are convinced to stay and help defend the bridge. John Miller is mortally wounded in the attempt, and his last words, whispered to Private Ryan, are, “Earn this.” The film ends with Ryan, many years older, asking his wife if he has lived a good life.
We all wonder, at some point, if we have been “good enough.”
We measure success by the number of dollars in a bank account, or by the titles associated with an individual’s name. We identify people by what they do, rather than who they are. We have a propensity to remember mistakes and shortcomings for far too long, to highlight the negative and overlook all that is still true, pure, and lovely within our existence.
I don’t consider myself religious… for me, it’s all about relationship. I believe in the simple truth of the Gospel, that whoever believes in Jesus, the Son of God, will have everlasting life. I find comfort and encouragement in joining with like believers, pursuing one of the most fundamental freedoms afforded citizens of this republic. I can attend the church of my choice whenever I want and speak freely of that choice without fear or intimidation.
I realize that some consider church to be an unnecessary relic of days gone by, and religious beliefs nothing more than a crutch for the weak. They enjoy the same freedom of worship as I; they simply choose to exercise their freedom by not worshiping. For each one who carries that opinion, I know of another who fears that our liberties are being eroded by lawmakers attempting to enforce political correctness, or judges who interpret the Constitution based on their personal preferences.
I choose not to see a demon behind every bush, although I have seen some surprising and unsettling events in my time. I don’t live in fear of the dire predictions I read in social media, of losing our freedoms and ability to pursue happiness. Indeed, the fact that we can speak freely in books, editorials, and news feeds is a testament to the liberties we enjoy in this country. Our Constitution has guaranteed those freedoms for over 200 years. The men and women we celebrate on this Veteran’s Day are testament to a simple but profound truth: freedom is not “free.”
I realize that great civilizations of the past have fallen. I understand that the America of today is a very different place than the America of the past five decades. And yet, I hold out hope that truth, justice, and the American way will prevail against all foes. I believe that, in spite of all that is unsavory, uncouth, undignified, and immoral in our world, the same Creator who made all men equally and bestowed upon them certain unalienable rights is still ultimately the Soverign of the universe.
In the tradition of our predecessors from the greatest generations of the mid Twentieth Century, and our forefathers who penned the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, I fear that we are weighed in the balance and found wanting. While I wonder what kind of world the children of today will inherit, I hold out hope that among them are individuals of strength and character. I have faith that those who come behind me will rise to the challenge and make a difference in their world. We who lead the way must not squander our future, or theirs, in a desire for momentary pleasure or personal gain. We cannot leave a world that is just “good enough.” We owe future generations the opportunity to achieve that of which they dream. We owe them the example and encouragement of our experiences, the stories from which they can draw strength and courage in uncertain moments and find the will to make good decisions and stand for what is right regardless of popular opinion or political correctness. We owe them the Gospel truth, and the assurance that living by faith is not just for the weak or unlearned. In my experience, living by faith takes far more courage than living by society’s standards.
My Dad once said that each of his girls had the ability to do anything they wanted to do. He wanted us to have a better life than he did, and he taught us to do our best in everything we did. I remember, as a seventh grader, being challenged at school to memorize Paul Revere’s Ride. One morning, after several days of struggle to remember the words, I sobbed to my mother, “I can’t do it!” I turned just as Dad came into the kitchen, and I buried my head in his arm. He comforted me briefly, then stepped back and looked me in the eye. “I don’t want to hear ‘I can’t’ again. You can.” He wasn’t angry, nor was he unconcerned. I realize now that Dad knew the danger of settling for less than one’s best. He expected no more of his girls than he expected of himself. I remember the day I stood by my desk and recited the poem, in its entirety, without assistance.
Think about where you and I might be today if Paul Revere had stayed home instead of riding a horse through that dark April night to sound the alarm. Think about the kind of world we might inhabit if our sons, daughters, parents, grandparents, and those who came before them, had not answered the call to duty. They did things that were hard, very hard. Doing hard things buoyed this country through many a dark hour, propelled us to the stars, and set the standard by which we measure the success of the great experiment.
When we have done our personal best, we have lived a life that is “good enough.” I pray I will do my best every day of my life. May I always do a day’s work for a day’s pay, spread some joy and cheer along the way, and leave the world better for my having been present for a part of her history.
I dare you to do the same.
Copyright 2019 lifeatroomtemperature.com Sherry A Hathaway. All rights reserved.