Fear and self doubt encompass the lives of vast amounts of people both impoverished and affluent. Surrendering these vices to the fires of reconciliation can be the ongoing toil of our lives. It all comes down to that one flaw that, if not controlled, will bind us to the darkness with the iron chains of restriction. That flaw is pride. We have all seen the downtrodden fallen victim to natural disasters, famine and war at home and abroad. What is it that prevents so many of us from reaching out with our full potential in aid and uplifting? What is it that berefts us to wonder of the lightness of our wallets if we submit to humanitarian efforts? What is it that automatically puts our desires ahead of the needs of others? The answer to each is pride. Within we know it is a wrong vice to carry yet to protect our ego and the tangible things placed in our care we cloth pride in our arms of nurture.

Pride is also chief destroyer of the one thing necessary to individual progression – faith. Faith is not just a word we use in passing to associate one with a particular religion or interesting notion of philosophy. Faith is the ever-changing word to describe an individual's steadfastness in a higher power. All loyalty that we associate with in life depends on the action of the individual. If the individual strives to follow directions and magnify their role they increase their loyalty. For those that do not and tend to bend with every breeze of fancy their loyalty is for not and thus become nothing more than a hindrance to the effort of the collective. So in order to increase the faith one must put off the pride for faith is the drawing of strength, power and knowledge from a higher source whereas pride tends to restrict one from seeing beyond the self. Pride, in essence is a wall we build up brick by brick throughout our lives to protect us and enclose us in a corner thus sheltering us from outside influence, knowledge, power and preventing us from truly reaching out.

The only true way toward global happiness is to strive toward social, spiritual and economic equality. This is not to be confused with the political arena of entertaining socialism but rather the constant action of uplifting one another in times of need. In fact I believe we, in the United States, have the grandest opportunity within the economic capitalist system to achieve the happiness and pursuit of “out of many – one”. We have in place a powerhouse machine of financial gain with opportunities abounding. With this blessing, however, is the responsibility to help and aid our fellow man in their time of need. We are the most charitable nation on Earth! However, as individuals how charitable are we? Are we able and willing to put faith in that higher power that He will sustain us and even progress us so long as we reach out to our brothers and sisters in the flesh.

I believe that if each of us in this nation and yes, in the world make that concerted effort to better and enrich ourselves through the stripping of the walls of pride we will see an even further unprecedented state of progress as has never been seen. I believe it would rival the progress of even the advances of the past one hundred years. Why? Because we would be scaffolding the platforms of increased humankind well-being both spiritual and temporal. The more the people are uplifted the more the opportunities unfold.

Likewise with the downtrodden. They too must relinquish pride in order to merit the receiving of the charity of man. What does this mean? The true nature of the heart of man is progression and self reliance. To desire a handout or to feel “entitled” to privileges is not natural but rather a learned behavior. When one receives it should be in the spirit of striving toward self reliance – to pick yourself up, brush off and start anew your life in a new direction. That is where faith is! That is where pride is not! That is the difference between confidence, gained through faith, and pride of the self! That, my brethren and sisters of the world, is the miracle of life!

I feel we are heading on a slippery slope when our various welfare and domestic aid programs are being molested by those who have no self respect, dignity or care for the inappropriate behavior they commit in the handling of the taxpayer funds. I don't wholly condemn them for it is a learned behavior just as those who do have wealth and don't responsibly uplift another. We need to instill the basics of correct choices and self respect within each citizen on this planet. Know this that we are not entitled to anything in this life.

I love this country. I love the inspired words and intellect of the Founding Fathers. I believe with all my heart that the establishment of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States of America was ordained of God to be a blueprint for the progression, liberty and happiness of not just those within the boundaries of the United States but eventually the population of the entire world. We have our problems in this country. It is not perfect as none of us have been celestialized as of yet. However, it is what I believe God felt we were prepared for according to His Plan. I believe that the events at the beginning of this country are a forerunner or a precursor to greater events yet to unfold. It must be true for it gives me hope and what truly gives unadulterated hope must surely come to pass.

These are my thoughts of the day. May they resonate the loyalty and patriotism within us all.