Wilderness Voice: Separation of Church and State

 

Separation of Church and State:  

Somewhere along the still evolving timeline of humanity, our nation; its communities, families and inherent individuals have lost something still longing to be recognized and embraced. You, me, we are all divinely created and endowed with the right to respectfully speak, be heard and accommodated.

Perhaps along with celebrating the birth of Christ we should consider not only its similarities with the birth of this Nation but their shared fate as well: A regretted Crucifixion and a faith-based Resurrection with a promised return! Both have had to survive a rollercoaster ride full of unexpected rises, winding curves and pitfalls. But that’s about it! Where Christ offered followers a sustaining inner power to endure the wait for His promised return; this nation, while singing “One nation under god” and inscribing “In god we trust” on dollar bills and courtroom walls, has offered a Constitution rippled with compromising loopholes exploited and periodically patched with amendments.

Perhaps it’s worth entertaining the general perception, related interpretations, given assumptions, intended ongoing direction, and implications around the statement “Separation of Church and State”. Humor the contradiction between what’s been written and continually carried out. Ponder How: Without Church (free from denominational dogma but committed to the shared notion of loving thy neighbor) The State has evidenced itself to do business “Conscience Free” in the name of “God” for “We the People.”

Initially inspired by a commitment to leave a history of enforced inequalities behind to aspire toward a new world where order, thrift, and stewardship would be both commonly endorsed and enjoyed; perhaps “X-Mas” is a good time to reconnect and make association with past convictions and beliefs for evaluating present circumstances and really celebrate the opportunity to embrace this “Christ-Mas” MORE the word “Birth” for redefining individual future directions and aspirations.

So yes, let’s enjoy the well-earned (and deserved) excitement our job-backed credit cards can endure. Let’s exchange gifts and party to our hearts content. More so, let’s really embrace our families and friends with enormous gratitude. But let’s also embrace the less fortunate! Those surmounting left out and forgotten while the consequences of “Separation of Church and State” continues underestimated and ill addressed: Locally and Abroad! Regardless of mistakes (came, went, and no doubt will recure), America! “We The People” were and continue to be a potential global advocate and role model.

In following articles, we’ll explore the origins of specially loaded words and statements quoted in speeches, taught throughout the halls of education, sung on stage, and inscribed on dollar bills and courtroom walls. Meanwhile play with this month’s celebrated word: BIRTH! Christ, Our Nation, and Ourselves!