To be sure, what I want to share with you today is not on the lips of every American citizen. However, from time to time we need to revisit our roots, as this gives us perspective into what is taking place in America today.
No doubt you have heard the name Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. He was a 19th century educationist and poet who penned some of the most memorable poems in the history of American literature. Other than being a poet of great repute, Longfellow was also a professor at his alma mater Bowdoin College and later at Harvard College.
Longfellow was born in Portland, Maine, on Feb. 27, 1807, and died on March 24, 1882. He was the most popular American poet of the 19th Century, known for such works as “The Song of Hiawatha” and “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere”. The reason I share this is because I wanted to give you a little background for one of his quotes that has wide application for each of us.
He said, “If we could read the secret history of each of our enemies, we should find in each man’s life enough sorrow to disarm all hostility.” Now, please stop for a moment and think about what this quote is actually saying. When we get all bent out of shape because of what someone has said or done to us, this quote may give us a lot better understanding of their motives. Of course, there are times when violence is involved, and this changes the rules, but in most cases a real understanding of human nature and why we do the things we do makes life so much more enjoyable.
As you may know, for some time now I have been on a mission to curb the violence and unethical behavior of far too many of our citizens. My motive is the concern I have for the future of my children and grandchildren. To my way of thinking, the answer is first to respect, followed by love. These two important concepts lay new ground rules for having a better, safer society.
Now, this question please: when you are on a trip and lose your way, what do you do? Well, you go back to the starting point where you know your location. Here I would like to share as a starting point the Preamble to the United States Constitution. If you know anything at all about the history of the United States of America, you know we have the most unique system of government in the history of mankind. First, we recognize that our power and authority come from Almighty God and He is at the center of American life. Now, here’s the Preamble:
We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution of the United States of America.
Now, I don’t know about you, but I believe this is something that all of us should read from time to time, along with the United States Constitution. We have a great country and a great system, but we must go back to the basics from time to time, especially when we lose our way.
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(Jim Davidson is an author, public speaker, syndicated columnist, and Founder of the Bookcase for Every Child project. Since its inception in the Log Cabin Democrat in 1995, Jim’s column has been self-syndicated in over 375 newspapers in 35 states. For a personalized copy of “Your Future Begins Today” send $20, which includes postage and handling, to Jim Davidson, 2 Bentley Drive, Conway, AR 72034.)