e pluribus unum, B!+@#es…

I am not quite sure where to begin after the events of this past week.  I am rarely at a loss for words, but this one has me all up in my feels instead.  WTF is happening??

Upon hearing about the Capital building “invasion,” I was immediately flooded with the memory of standing in the exact place where this violence erupted.  We had taken a family trip to Washington, DC a few years ago, as (in my opinion) most families should.  Showing our youth the “hub” of our government is really something important.  The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington Cemetery, the monuments, the museums, and so much more entice even the most uninterested visitors.  It is hard not to be swept up by standing places where history has been made and remembered.

We were especially thrilled to stand in the rotunda of the Capitol Building.  Like entering Fort Knox, we waited in the cold until we were escorted through metal detectors.  As if we were in a museum of sort, we stood in line to buy tickets for a tour. 

There was a buzz around us all.  People at work, as if we were invisible, passing by briskly with cell phones clearly on a mission to get things done.  Yes, the vibe was of productivity, service, and accomplishment.

Our tour guide had the gift of story-telling and re-telling.  For the first time, I could understand truly how someone can be swept up in the thrill of government service.  As if a romance were blooming, I began to believe in the place in which I stood.  I felt an excitement to be there; as if, at any moment, George Washington himself would appear to clarify that whole cherry tree thing.

Fast forward to this past week… in the same location… and the excitement…. Has vanished completely.

I recalled vividly standing in the rotunda, looking up at the dome ceiling.  There it was, flanked by painted people, scripted onto a painted ribbon-like banner: “e pluribus unum.”

“WTF does that mean?” I asked myself.

As if telepathic, our tour guide explained:  it’s Latin for “out of many, one” 

These words became the US motto in the 1776 design on the Great Seal (Y’all, that is a LONG time ago!)   Here I am, in 2021, feeling led to look into its meaning.

By the way, since this is a Christian blog, I feel compelled to mention that “e pluribus unum” was eventually replaced with “in God we trust.”  

OK, I digress…

As the Capitol building was breached this last week, all I could do was repeat that phrase over and over in my mind.  I could not imagine that the very same “Ft. Knox” type entry granted to us had been overtaken by my fellow citizens.  This gave me new meaning of “out of many, one.”

I can safely bet that no one who entered the building took the time to stand in awe of its ceiling.  Most likely, no one read any plaques on the wall regarding the storied history they were invading.  I would even venture to guess that many of them had no idea what even happens in that building that they so arrogantly entered. 

This is NOT a political post.  As much as I soaked up our trip DC those few years ago, I do not enjoy politics.  I am quite outspoken about my beliefs and opinions in general (freedom of speech and all), and politics would certainly be no exception.  I try to pride myself on welcoming other’s opinions and views.  Admittedly, I have learned a lot recently from the viewpoints of those with whom I disagree.  I think it is pretty great to broaden horizons. 

Having said that, I can also say that I have lost friends over politics.  I am far from perfect, yet I do enjoy the ability to converse constructively regarding opposing views.  The problem, however, is that I seem to be met with anger over simply having a differing opinion.  Where is the productivity in that??

THIS, yet another example of “out of many, one.”

As a Christian blogger, I cannot help but imagine Jesus in these words. 

His translation may have most likely meant that HE was the “one,” and that we were “the many.”

In his eyes, we live.  Any good Christian knows that.  We admire him, we respect him, and we give all to him.

Why, then, do we not live like that towards one another?

I could over-simplify this past week by saying how much better it would all be if everyone had a little Jesus in their hearts.  However, I believe many do have Jesus in their heart.  Why, then, do we feel such a “right” to place anger upon our brothers and sisters in Christ?

Where is the “respect of authority?”  How have we become a nation of “one,” with only our own intentions in mind?  Why do we not “respect the rules?”

He did not design us without emotion, yet we are charged to be kind.  His appeal for us to agree is clearly stated in the scripture; we are tasked to live with civility when we do not. We have been given different journeys and experiences.  We have the gift of individuality.  Why, when so many celebrate being “different,” is there so much anger for those who believe differently?

I wish I had the answer.

Did it not seem that we were headed in the right direction when “e pluribus unum” became “in God we trust?”   

Fast forward to this decade, and we are doing our best as Christians to keep the word “God” anywhere.  The religious freedoms we hold dear can seem in jeopardy, as even “God” has become a source of division amongst us.  Sweet Jesus, you need your own social media outlet.  I would “like” your posts all day long; and, I know, you wouldn’t be censored.

Rest assured, however, that this is nothing new.  Persecution of Christians has happened since the dawn of time.  Jesus is always victorious, even when we do not know what victory looks like.

Today, I ponder the same:  What is the end game here?  How do we mend the division that the years before us have enabled?  When will the respect of our nation, and our fellow citizens, repair itself?   Why do I feel persecuted for whom or what I support?

As is with faith, I believe in the unseen.  I trust the unanswered.  I know that we are all in the hands of God just waiting for this tantrum to end…

“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.”

     1 Corinthians 1:10

#holykitt#jesus#blogginforchrist#1corinthians#uscapitol#ingodwetrust#epluribusunum#wtfmeanswhythyfather#spotthecross#tantrum#persecution#resolution#division#godblessamerica

e pluribus unum, B!+@#es…

I am not quite sure where to begin after the events of this past week.  I am rarely at a loss for words, but this one has me all up in my feels instead.  WTF is happening??

Upon hearing about the Capital building “invasion,” I was immediately flooded with the memory of standing in the exact place where this violence erupted.  We had taken a family trip to Washington, DC a few years ago, as (in my opinion) most families should.  Showing our youth the “hub” of our government is really something important.  The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington Cemetery, the monuments, the museums, and so much more entice even the most uninterested visitors.  It is hard not to be swept up by standing places where history has been made and remembered.

We were especially thrilled to stand in the rotunda of the Capitol Building.  Like entering Fort Knox, we waited in the cold until we were escorted through metal detectors.  As if we were in a museum of sort, we stood in line to buy tickets for a tour. 

There was a buzz around us all.  People at work, as if we were invisible, passing by briskly with cell phones clearly on a mission to get things done.  Yes, the vibe was of productivity, service, and accomplishment.

Our tour guide had the gift of story-telling and re-telling.  For the first time, I could understand truly how someone can be swept up in the thrill of government service.  As if a romance were blooming, I began to believe in the place in which I stood.  I felt an excitement to be there; as if, at any moment, George Washington himself would appear to clarify that whole cherry tree thing.

Fast forward to this past week… in the same location… and the excitement…. Has vanished completely.

I recalled vividly standing in the rotunda, looking up at the dome ceiling.  There it was, flanked by painted people, scripted onto a painted ribbon-like banner: “e pluribus unum.”

“WTF does that mean?” I asked myself.

As if telepathic, our tour guide explained:  it’s Latin for “out of many, one” 

These words became the US motto in the 1776 design on the Great Seal (Y’all, that is a LONG time ago!)   Here I am, in 2021, feeling led to look into its meaning.

By the way, since this is a Christian blog, I feel compelled to mention that “e pluribus unum” was eventually replaced with “in God we trust.”  

OK, I digress…

As the Capitol building was breached this last week, all I could do was repeat that phrase over and over in my mind.  I could not imagine that the very same “Ft. Knox” type entry granted to us had been overtaken by my fellow citizens.  This gave me new meaning of “out of many, one.”

I can safely bet that no one who entered the building took the time to stand in awe of its ceiling.  Most likely, no one read any plaques on the wall regarding the storied history they were invading.  I would even venture to guess that many of them had no idea what even happens in that building that they so arrogantly entered. 

This is NOT a political post.  As much as I soaked up our trip DC those few years ago, I do not enjoy politics.  I am quite outspoken about my beliefs and opinions in general (freedom of speech and all), and politics would certainly be no exception.  I try to pride myself on welcoming other’s opinions and views.  Admittedly, I have learned a lot recently from the viewpoints of those with whom I disagree.  I think it is pretty great to broaden horizons. 

Having said that, I can also say that I have lost friends over politics.  I am far from perfect, yet I do enjoy the ability to converse constructively regarding opposing views.  The problem, however, is that I seem to be met with anger over simply having a differing opinion.  Where is the productivity in that??

THIS, yet another example of “out of many, one.”

As a Christian blogger, I cannot help but imagine Jesus in these words. 

His translation may have most likely meant that HE was the “one,” and that we were “the many.”

In his eyes, we live.  Any good Christian knows that.  We admire him, we respect him, and we give all to him.

Why, then, do we not live like that towards one another?

I could over-simplify this past week by saying how much better it would all be if everyone had a little Jesus in their hearts.  However, I believe many do have Jesus in their heart.  Why, then, do we feel such a “right” to place anger upon our brothers and sisters in Christ?

Where is the “respect of authority?”  How have we become a nation of “one,” with only our own intentions in mind?  Why do we not “respect the rules?”

He did not design us without emotion, yet we are charged to be kind.  His appeal for us to agree is clearly stated in the scripture; we are tasked to live with civility when we do not. We have been given different journeys and experiences.  We have the gift of individuality.  Why, when so many celebrate being “different,” is there so much anger for those who believe differently?

I wish I had the answer.

Did it not seem that we were headed in the right direction when “e pluribus unum” became “in God we trust?”   

Fast forward to this decade, and we are doing our best as Christians to keep the word “God” anywhere.  The religious freedoms we hold dear can seem in jeopardy, as even “God” has become a source of division amongst us.  Sweet Jesus, you need your own social media outlet.  I would “like” your posts all day long; and, I know, you wouldn’t be censored.

Rest assured, however, that this is nothing new.  Persecution of Christians has happened since the dawn of time.  Jesus is always victorious, even when we do not know what victory looks like.

Today, I ponder the same:  What is the end game here?  How do we mend the division that the years before us have enabled?  When will the respect of our nation, and our fellow citizens, repair itself?   Why do I feel persecuted for whom or what I support?

As is with faith, I believe in the unseen.  I trust the unanswered.  I know that we are all in the hands of God just waiting for this tantrum to end…

“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.”

     1 Corinthians 1:10

#holykitt#jesus#blogginforchrist#1corinthians#uscapitol#ingodwetrust#epluribusunum#wtfmeanswhythyfather#spotthecross#tantrum#persecution#resolution#division#godblessamerica