The Stewart Report

As a historian I spend a lot of time thinking about the past - studying the activities, the happenings, of those gone who have gone before us.

But today I find myself pondering these two thoughts; First, "Do you think that our founding fathers could have ever imagined that after 200 years had passed since their being here, that what they said or did would even be remembered today, much less followed?" I don't think so. But, that's the beauty of their sacrifice. What they did, their sacrifice, was not for fame or fortune or recognition. They made their great sacrifices for God and country and for this ideal of a free America - and I am so very proud of them.

But then there is this other thought, a much heavier thought; "If our nation should survive another 200 years, just how will our generation be remembered? As books are written and the Song of America continues to be sung, just how will our verse in that song read?" Will it talk of courage and bravery? Absolutely. It will speak of our brave military who fight today, even as we speak, for the freedom cause of our nation.

But what else must we be concerned about? Is it important for us to leave a path so that those coming after us have the right way to follow?

In the early 1800's there was a group of pioneers, a wagon train, traveling to a new home. It was a treacherous and deadly trip, but their most dangerous obstacle was a huge mountain range that they had to pass through, and the only safe way through it was to follow the trail laid out by those who had gone before. If they would stay on that trail they would make it through safely.

But before they arrived at that mountain, an early winter storm dropped snow, so much snow that when the wagon train came to the range of mountains, the pass was completely covered - they could not see which way to go. What would they do? If they stayed, they would surely freeze to death. If they went forward and took the wrong trail, they would be lost forever.

As they carefully measured their choices, considered their fate, they saw something - trail marks carved high in the trees, so high that even the snow could not cover them - marks left by those gone before to show the way. And even though the snow had covered the trail, they followed these markings and survived.

Today we, this generation, have not only the responsibility to follow the path made clear by our founding fathers - the path that helped make America great. But more importantly, we must keep the path clear, make the trail marks high, so high that our children and their children can see the way - no matter what obstacles may come.

What is our part, our verse of the Song of America? Song writer Keith Green said it this way:

"Oh may those who come behind us find us faithful,
may the fire of our devotion light their way.
May the footprints that we leave, lead them to believe,
and the life we live inspire them to obey.
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful".

Sometime today take a moment and pray - pray that we will never forget who we are - and that we realize - now the path for America is in our hands.

May God bless America, and may God bless you.

Jerry Stewart

P.S. email me with your own thoughts and ideas regarding our America at stewartreport@onemomentinamerica.com

JS