Pray for our Country

I truly believe we are in a war for the soul of America. Not a bad time for us to dust off our copies of the Book of Confession and read The Barmen Declaration. I was stunned to see a domestic terrorist in a hell bent mob of insurrectionists, in our nation's capital with a hoodie on that had these words,

CAMP AUSCHWITZ

Work Brings Freedom

My grandfather, Jim Fickel, did not talk about his service in the Army during WWII. When I was a Junior in High School, studying WWII, I asked him if he ever saw a concentration camp. He was in the second wave on Omaha Beach, France, Belgium, Battle of the Bulge and Ardennes Forest, occupation of Germany. He had been through hell, the camps the very worst, and he shared with me a conversation he had with several German citizens, "They never thought this could happen in Germany." But as he then said, "They lived within a mile or so of the camp they liberated."

There were other slogans, on numerous sweatshirts, MAGA, January 6, 2021, Civil War. There were chants, "Hang Mike Pence". There was a gallows, a noose, hate, hurt, desperation. There was evil.

Stay strong. While I support Mr. Biden, I do not agree with him when he says, "This is not who we are." Yes it is. God forgive and help us is my prayer. True repentance must begin with the truth, of our history, of our original sins of genocide and slavery, the glimmer of hope cut in words found in the Declaration of Independence, "We hold these words to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness."

The Constitution of the United States begins with these words of truth, "We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union" must echo in our prayers, in our confession, in the forgiveness we all need, in order to do all we can to form that more perfect union. We must not allow fascism, liars and thieves to steal our country. We must stand strong, pray long, and do what is required, justice, kindness and walk humbly with God, neighbor and self.