(no subject)
so it amuses me to drive around town and see all the churches with signs about their "Patriotic service" today. while i think it a wonderful thing for the church to support the state [see Romans Chapter 13] i was more impressed with the church i've been going to off and on since i moved into the area. Trinity didn't have a patriotic service or anything of the sort. The sermon was about service/living in service to others and the church was having a blood drive all day today. the reason i found it most interesting is that the idea of giving blood to help others is really a part of our patriotic tradition. not only has the United States [individuals, religious organizations, and the State] been one of the most generous nations in the history of the world in the service of the needs of underdeveloped nations, it has also been one of the most active in political crises and the military support against tyranny. secondly, the idea of giving blood is somewhat symbolic [at least, to me] of all the Americans who have ever laid down their life for that of another, from the Revolutionaries to soldiers in peace keeping missions to firefighters and police who die in service to their countrymen.