Are you patriotic? What does being patriotic mean to you?
It makes me sad when a good word is co-opted by misguided people. The word patriotic describes a person who is devoted to their country. The word patriotic used to evoke feelings of pride in my country, the sweet land of liberty. Now, it brings to mind people who are devoted to a man with autocratic tendencies and people who conflate faith with nationism.
The man who tried to prevent the peaceful transfer of power in the United States of America in 2021 described the insurrectionists he summoned to the US Capitol as ‘patriots.’
Were these rioters demonstrating devotion to the United States of America when they stormed the Capitol? No, they were demonstrating devotion to a man. They came to protest in D.C. on January 6th because a demagogue told them to be there.
The Capitol rioters aren’t the only ones who have soured me on the word patriotic. Christian Nationalists might well be described as patriotic; they are certainly devoted to the good old USA. Not only are they devoted to a misguided vision of our country, but they also idolize nationalism.
Patriotic Christians recognize they are citizens of heaven first and citizens of America second (Philippians 3:20).
Keith Simon, Truth Over Tribe
I am a Christian, and I love my country, but I am a citizen of heaven first. I am devoted to God.
My Father God to Thee, Author of Liberty, to Thee I sing.
My country, ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing: land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrims’ pride, from every mountainside let freedom ring!
I am one of the many people who drive faster than the speed limit, especially on highways. I have never gotten a ticket for speeding, though I certainly have deserved one. It is well known that you won’t be stopped if you drive within five mph or so of the speed limit, and I take advantage of that. Other people drive 10-15 mph over the limit, so I tell myself I’m good!
The one time I ever got a ticket was for failing to stop at a red light. I was with my husband, though we weren’t yet married. We were following another car on our way to a coworker’s house when the light turned yellow. As I was slowing down to stop, Kent told me to go so we wouldn’t lose them. Of course, a police officer was there!
And yes, I have unintentionally broken traffic laws. Going down unfamiliar streets, I have failed to see a stop sign or a reduced speed limit sign. I have unintentionally gone the wrong way down a one-way street, which can be terrifying!
The topic of breaking laws makes me think of everyday grace, the undeserved favor we show one another. Just as the police extend grace to traffic law breakers every day, most of us extend grace to others every day for minor annoyances. We are even more merciful when people unintentionally do something wrong.
Sometimes, we take everyday grace for granted, don’t we? When I speed, I am breaking the law. The police have the right to fine me for going even one mph over the limit.
God is even more merciful than we are. He does not treat us as we deserve to be treated. He is compassionate and gracious.
The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
My husband and I have owned two homes in the last thirty-one years. We plan to downsize later this year. Prior home ownership shows you what you want and what you don’t want in a home. But as anyone who has ever watched Love It or List It or House Hunters knows, couples do not always agree on the ideal home. We are no different.
Our first house, home for twenty-seven years, was a 1970s tri-level with an unfinished basement. I didn’t like having to go up and down stairs all the time. That house had a formal living room on the main level and a family room on the lower level. I don’t need two living rooms.
Our current house is a ranch style home with a completely finished basement. It was constructed in 2006, so it has the “open concept” design that is popular today. I like this style, but it isn’t on my must-have list. One of the reasons we want to move is that our house is too big for two people. I don’t like our master bedroom as much as the one in our old house because it isn’t wide enough for our bedroom furniture.
For me, a dream home isn’t just about the inside of the house; I also want a nice yard with a place to sit outside and for hubby to grill. I also like trees. Our first house had a fenced-in backyard with a covered concrete patio. I didn’t like having neighbors so close behind us. Our current house has a nice front porch and two decks in the back. We rarely use the uncovered deck. I like the fact that there are no houses behind us, just a pasture that is likely to be developed someday. As a lover of wildlife, I have enjoyed seeing deer in the pasture and in our yard.
Location. Location. Location. Our old house was in the suburbs. Almost everywhere we needed to go was within three miles of our house. Our current home is six miles or so from the grocery store and church and even farther from the gym and other businesses. I would like to be closer.
I’ve been looking at homes on Zillow and Realtor.com in anticipation of moving. I’ve talked to my husband a couple of times about the homes I like. He says we’re looking for different things.
Kent wants a home that is “cozy” like the home he grew up in. That house was small and outdated, and it’s definitely not my dream home. When Kent’s dad retired from farming, they moved into a newer home in town. I was so happy for my mother-in-law. Kent doesn’t mind a house that needs some work because you can personalize it to your taste. I would rather have a move-in ready home. In the past, we waited too long to remodel our country blue kitchen. Now, I’m too old, or maybe too spoiled, to wait years for what I want!
We lived in several old houses when I was growing up. My mother had a knack for making all our homes feel cozy. I prefer cozy to the starkness of some modern homes, but I don’t want to feel cramped. If there isn’t enough space, a home can easily become cluttered. Clutter disturbs my peace.
So what exactly is my dream home? No more than three levels, including the basement. Spacious master bedroom and kitchen. Two more bedrooms for guests. Space for all our books. A place to sit outside and drink a cup of coffee. Good lighting. And because we have cold winters and summer hail storms, a two car garage is a must.
My favorite home on the market in our area, in our price range, checks off all my boxes. It has a shady front yard with a covered porch. It’s centrally located. It was built in 1948, but it has been updated. The living room and kitchen are spacious. Upstairs, the bedrooms and bathroom have the slanted walls of a one and a half story home. That’s cozy.
For me, a dream home is one that makes both of us happy. Will my dream home be cozy enough for Kent but not too cramped for me?
You get some great, amazingly fantastic news. What’s the first thing you do?
The first thing I do when I get fantastic news is thank God. (If I don’t do this first, I really should.) I received long-anticipated, good news just this week. When I get good news, I want to share it.
I told my boss in September that I plan to retire in March. My job is compex. I had hoped that my replacement would be in place by the first of January, so he or she could work alongside me through the entire year-end process. That did not happen. The work can’t wait, so I have carried on as usual.
Here’s my great, amazingly fantastic news. A few weeks ago, my boss told me he interviewed a promising candidate. This week, he told me she starts on February 19th! Even better, she has experience in the industry and was recommended by a colleague.
I still have four weeks to train my replacement. Yesterday, I agreed to consult for three to six months to ensure a smooth transition.
Good news comes with emotions. Gratitude. Joy. Excitement. Relief. A burden has been lifted.
As a follower of Jesus, I have good news to share. The gospel literally means good news. Here is my great, amazingly fantastic news, good news that brings me joy. The burden of my sins was borne by Jesus. He replaced me on the cross.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us
Are there any activities or hobbies you’ve outgrown or lost interest in over time?
I haven’t outgrown any activities or hobbies, but I have abandoned a couple due to waning interest. Last year, I gave up a hobby I enjoyed because it became too risky for me.
Many years ago, my husband and I bought bowling balls and bowling shoes. Bowling was going to be a fun activity to do together. The last time we bowled, I was frustrated with myself. I complained about not being good at it. My husband recalls suggesting that I take lessons. I got mad at him, then he got mad at me and it wasn’t fun anymore. Today, the balls and shoes sit abandoned in a closet.
A few years ago, I was interested in buying a ping pong table because we enjoy playing ping pong, and we have the space in our basement. Indecision about which table to buy eventually turned into lost interest. Sometimes waiting to buy something is a good thing. Now, we have plans to downsize.
For years, I enjoyed trail running. Last year, I fell and fractured my shoulder. It was a bad injury. Knowing that I’m likely to fall again and thinking, what if the next time I hit my head as hard as I hit my shoulder, led to my decision to give up trail running. Though I have to admit that my resolve was not strong enough. I tried trail running just a little bit a few months after my shoulder injury and tweaked my knee running on uneven ground. Okay, now I get it.
People give up hobbies because they outgrow them or lose interest. Sometimes, we become more interested in pursuing something else. Sometimes, giving something up is in the best interest of our relationships. Sometimes, it’s in our own best interest.
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I skipped the daily prompt yesterday: What’s your favorite candy? I read some interesting posts about one of my favorites, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and was reminded of the ad campaign from the 1970s. When I was a kid in the 70s, I usually chose Cherry Mash. I haven’t had one in years.
Innermost Being 