Wednesday's reflection on Sunday's sermon

Thomas Paine wrote the pamphlet, "Common Sense" which was a statement read by many colonists and helping justify a separation from England.

It is important to note that his writing influenced George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln. He was able to convey the idealism of what it means to establish government given from the rights of the people and it helped people move toward democratic processes of ruling and back away from monarchies like the British. It enabled the colonists to stand on their own and to stand up to the powers over them.

He writes, "I have heard it asserted by some, that as America has flourished under her former connection with Great Britain, the same connection is necessary toward her future happiness, and will always have the same effect. Nothing can be more fallacious than this kind of argument--We may as well assert that because a child has thrived upon milk, that it is never to have meat, or that for the first 20 years of our lives is to become a precedent for the next twenty. But even this is admitting more than is true; for I answer roundly, that America would have flourished as much, probably much more, had no European power taken any notice of her."

We can look at what could be as compared with what has been but it is not necessary to conclude that we have seen the best in what has been satisfactory and over look what could be in the unknown future we have know experienced.

How do we address the future? Do we imagine a continuation of the past or do we risk the future that has yet to be understanding that, just as it could get worse, so it could also get better.

The sermon looks the present and future straight on and thinks about how we move from the "times that try our souls" to the time that our will has found a way.

It is a mistake to romanticize the present and it is a mistake to give up on it. We must understand that life is never perfect but it is perfect able.

How do we gain the common sense to challenge the present and look toward the future?

What attitude do we have?

What direction do we take?

If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you would permit others to read your thoughts click on the 'comments' box below.

I look forward to hearing from you.


Charles Schuster