Saturday, February 23, 2008

John Adams For President, Again

I have been reading a new book lately, John Adams by David McCullough. It is a very good read, but even more than that it reveals the character of a man that was one of the leading shapers of our government. Unlike some of the "gilded gentry", like Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, Adams was a common man in so many ways with solid values. He owned a small amount of property compared to the two men he served between as President. He worked his own land, owning no slaves and embraced a debt-free mentality.

Adams, also, loved freedom with the same passion that he loved his dear wife, Abigail. Like all good New Englanders, he spoke his mind without reservation and relished good conversation. He kept his integrity inspite of the bane of political intrigue and factionalism that existed in the new found halls of the American experience of government.

Adams was not without flaws, however. He, for instance, had an overwhelming since of ambition. He even attempted to get the new congress to come up with a more august title for the Presidency when he became the President. But, to his credit, he acknowledged his flaws in his letters and dairies and constantly saw the need to reform his deficiences of character.

We need more men like John Adams in this country. A man who spoke his mind with great conviction. A man who understood the falleness of the human heart and took measures to ensure that our government had true "checks and balances" to keep any segment of society and government from taking too much power. A man who loved his family with complete devotion. A man who hated the enslavement of the black race realizing that they deserved the same freedoms that he himself staked his life, his fortunes, and his sacred honor on.

Adams made a comment on the eve of the signing of the declaration of independence that showed his perspective on the historical significance of the American quest of birthing the most powerful form of government the world has ever seen and the price it would take to secure it's reality:

The object is great which we have in view, and we must expect a great expense of blood to obtain it. But we should always remember that a free constitution of civil government cannot be purchased at too dear a rate, as there is nothing on this side of Jerusalem of equal importance to mankind.

Adams compares the cost of securing the "American experiment" with that of the cost of securing our salvation in Jerusalem. Freedom is always costly and is always worth the cost. Adams saw the redemption purchased at Calvary as the singular event of human history. He realized that Jesus paid the price that bought our freedom from the tyranny of sin and guilt. He also knew that there was no greater cause since that time that merited the sacred sacrifice of blood to secure a republican form of government.

May we, like Adams, hold both of our freedoms sacred (freedom from sin and death, and freedom as American citizens) and work to maintain those freedoms at all cost.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

My mother's 70th

Last month I was privileged to go home and enjoy a birthday celebration with my mother. In the many years that I have lived away from home this is probably the first time I have been able to share my mother's birthday.

(I am the one between my father's legs)

What a time we had reflecting on one of the greatest lives to intersect with mine. She was born Carolyn Elizabeth Byrd in Arkansas. She was raised on the farm with no running water or in door plumbing. Wow, that sounds so ancient!

This is the lady that was a vessal that God allowed to not only conceive me and birth me but also to raise me with the values that I have today. She is a woman of singular strength and amazing wisdom. She navigated having four children, losing her husband when he was only 35 years of age, providing for us as the main bread-winner, and lauching us into the world successfully.

Carolyn Elizabeth married my father when she was still a teenager. He was a man committed to the USAF and she left her country setting to live all over the USA as he went from base to base. Dad, could not resist a homecoming queen and the captain of the ladies basketball team to boot! She caught his eye and stole his heart. So in the quickest way they got married across the Mississippi River in Hornlake, Mississippi. Carolyn Byrd became Carolyn Sulcer and she has four of us to prove it!!

When Dad got sick with melinoma cancer she nursed him until she could no longer and stood by his bedside when he passed away. I will never forget the story she told us after we buried him and was having such a hard time of making it through the loss.

She told us of an incident in which Dad had an angelic visit, relaying to him the unalterable coming of his death. However, this divine being assured my father that every one of us would be cared for and protected. This simple incident would go on to shape my view of God and his love for us. And as the years went by I could see this simple comfort from an angel confirmed over and over again.

Carolyn Byrd Sulcer would meet someone near and dear to all of us within a year of my father's passing. She would take on the namesake of Roy Cason a few years later. He was a wonderful comfort and support to my Mom for many years to follow. Roy passed away a couple of years ago now, but he was a tremedous support and companion to my mother.

Carolyn Cason was a wonderful real estate investor. She took the money she had invested in other homes and then re-sold those homes to make greater investements. She purchased some land in Hickory Withe, Tennessee of about 60 acres and then over the years subdivided it and built and sold homes on the property. I remember thinking, "Will this be the last home we will live in?" However, we would invariably move to the next lot and the next house until she ended up selling the total 60 acres and buying another 60 acres. Today she lives on most of that amount. But she is debt free because of her investment strategies!! Also, today two of my siblings, my older brother Ricky, and my younger sister Leticia, along with their families, live on parts of this property.

Mom also cares deeply for her family. Not only has she provided her children a place to settle close to her but she has built a home, with the help of her siblings, for my grandmother, MamaByrd.

If there is one thing that stands out as a principle value held by my mother it is the value of honesty in life. She told us to always tell the truth no matter how bad it may hurt because truth was the only way to live a deep and significant life. I love my Mama!! She is the best and this is a simple tribute to her blessing in my life