Uncommon Courage

 Courage for such a time as this. America is good. Actually it's great. Yesterday was 4th of July. The holiday when we celebrate our independence. We who still love this country and what it stands for are still a majority even though it doesn't sound like it or even feel like it these days. It's going to take uncommon courage from the common majority of us to do our part to keep our freedoms, opportunities, and values for our children and grandchildren. Below cousins John and Jackson are looking at on-line machinery auctions together.

Courage is not passive. However courage is contagious. And it feels good when we hear or see a story about uncommon courage. Folks watch what you do and why you do it. Karl is mowing road ditches on the 4th.

Courage is not the absence of concern. And there are often risks involved in doing something. Courage is getting things done in the presence of risks. We work with risks every day. Mike is building a pond for Tim and Shannon and family southeast of Oskaloosa. When building ponds in our area there are always risks of running into old coal mine shale. Or finding sand when digging the core. Or not having enough black dirt for the toe. Or finding a spring and working with mud. However if Mike allowed risk to stop him he would not make a living and the folks he works for would not have a beautiful finished product.

Courage is helping someone else's confidence with encouragement, compliments, and positive comments. Wives, you are the number one confidence builder in your husband's life. What you say or don't say has everything to do with your spouses security or insecurity about himself. Parents, your children will end their day feeling adequate or inadequate based on watching and listening to you. The Bible says we need to build each other up. Below six year old Jackson is feeling pretty grown up driving Grandpa's skidloader and helping stack pallets.

Friday evening we enjoyed getting together at Mark and Stacy's pond for a graduation party for Amelia. Amelia was awarded the "I care" award as an 8th grader this spring. Congratulations Amelia and best wishes on high school where your Mom and Grandma both work in the kitchen.

We have had some beautiful evenings and sunsets this past week. Kristin took this picture right at sunset of Malaki fishing.

Yesterday Jan and I went on a ride. After going out for breakfast we headed southeast through Eldon.

We crossed the Des Moines River at Douds.

And then south of Douds we turned on gravel and followed the river to Keosauqua.

We came out on Highway 2 east of Cantril. Of course you can't go by Cantril without stopping at the Dutchman's Store. While Jan shopped I drank coffee and visited with Kenny, Claire's son. The Zimmermans are a Mennonite family that have owned and operated this store for 35 years. It's a destination spot for many folks. Especially recently.

The folks currently making all the noise in our country are saying Patriotism is for hicks and we need to forget our past history by pulling down statues and renaming holidays. In the 1930s leaders in Germany encouraged youth oriented Nazi groups to burn books about their past. Last year China burned materials that opposed their communists agenda. I enjoy celebrating our countries independence. I am motivated by the uncommon courage it took for folks to surrender their fortunes, their lives, and their sacred honor, start the greatest country on earth and the freedoms we have today.

In business we have the blessing of seeing the fruits of our labors. We have the freedom to succeed or fail. And if we fail we have opportunities to get up, brush off the dust, and try again. And we have the freedom to share with others how we choose. We currently have politicians who hate. Who want the power to give to those who agree with their agenda and punish those who don't.

The family is the foundation for a strong culture that works. These little girls went grocery shopping for their mother yesterday southwest of Bloomfield. They had to cross Highway 63 as they walked home.

Nathan was born 201 years before me. He was one of ten children. I learned about him in my history class in grade school. Our countries first president needed someone to spy on the British during the Revolutionary War  and Nathan was the only volunteer. He disguised himself as a Dutch school master looking for work. After a few days he was recognized and captured. The next morning he was marched up the road to be hung. His executioners were touched by the patriot's composure, gentle dignity, and last words. "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." Even though it was in the journals of three witnesses there are folks today questioning Nathan's statement. Here was a 21 year old unemployed teacher, who never owned property, who never married or had children, who was never dignified in battle, and failed in his mission, made history worth remembering in the last few seconds of his life because of his uncommon courage.

I have shared the story of Gideon with you before. He felt inadequate to defeat the Midionites until God gave him uncommon courage by listening to an enemy soldier's dream. When Jan and I were first married our country was saying that we can get along without God. But at least we acknowledged there was a God and went to him as a country every time we were in trouble. Even during 9/11. Today our country has forgotten God. Even with all our troubles there has been no suggestion of getting on our knees as a nation and asking God for help. We as fathers so want to help our children. And we want them to ask. Our Heavenly Father wants us, his children, to ask as well. Lets have the uncommon courage to start that. Remember courage is contagious. We will see another 4th of July. God bless America. Land that I love. Stand beside her and guide her. Through the night with the light from above.