Stay the Course!

One of my favorite movies of all time is The Patriot. I think it is one of the most inspiring movies that I have ever seen and it is because of the message of principle that drove those heroic men to fight through what seemed to be impossible trials and circumstances for the cause of liberty. The constant theme carried throughout the movie is staying the course-- even realizing that fighting out of anger and not out of honor for the cause of freedom was undermining to their cause.

The strongest image is woven like a binding thread throughout the movie-- the tattered and torn American flag. Heath Ledger's character, Gabriel finds an American flag on the ground, barely recognizable because of the battles. It is torn, discolored and frayed almost beyond repair. It is hopeless. Gabriel picks up the flag and a soldier laying on the ground tells him that it's no use, that it's a lost cause. Gabriel picks it up anyway and everyday, without fail he carefully, deliberately mends the flag. It parallels the determination that their small militia had in fighting the "redcoats."

Upon Gabriel's death, Mel Gibson's character almost gives up, but he finds the flag, repaired and restored, and it gives him the strength and determination to lead a battle that was a pivotal and crucial turning point against the British and General Cornwallis. What if Gabriel hadn't seen the value of that flag? What if our founding fathers and soldiers of liberty hadn't fought for the lost cause? What if they had given up when every single sign said that it was hopeless?

What if we give up now, fighting our ideological battle? How lazy, how unthankful, how disgraceful of a loss that would be to even the honor of those whose blood covered the ground of our young country, all for a cause that was deemed "lost." It resulted in the greatest nation this world has ever seen and I do not hesitate or apologize when I say that. It is the truth.

Compromise is something we must not even flirt with. It is compromise that has gotten us all the hope and change that has drawn us away from our foundation on godly principles of freedom, endowed on us by our Creator. Will we continue to sell our freedom for chains in the name of compromise and political correctness?

(Teapartiers, I feel I must warn you now not to trust the deceptive words of those that would pander to your new movement. Vocabulary words are easy to learn and we are desperate for people to trust. )

I can still see the beauty underneath the mess that our country has become. It glitters every now and then when a man or woman stands for freedom and for truth--for that most wonderful lost cause that is not lost at all. It shines in the light of the awakening of a people. I truly believe that is happening right now. We need more Mr. and Ms. Smiths to go to Washington who believe that only causes worth fighting for are lost causes.

You must pardon my burst of passion, but it is so important that we too stay the course. It is one of the deepest desires of my heart to see our foundation restored. (Yes, godly, biblical foundation. I am not afraid of offending!) What an amazing time we live in to have the privilege of having the opportunity to influence the future of freedom in this country!