Independence

Written by Bob Benke, CtK Member

I was asked to write this blog for today, the day after Independence Day, because of my experience in the military as well as in city government. My military experience was in a Reserve status, and my only active duty was for training sessions. My contribution does not come close to that of many other CtK members and millions of other Veterans that have served, who in many cases were injured or even lost their lives. I can’t help but question, what would have been the future for my wife, Judy and I if I had been called? We likely wouldn’t have had the same life as we now know it. We are blessed to live in a good house, with plenty to eat, and all of our friends at CtK to worship with. Thank you Lord!

When my Combat Engineering Unit was on High Alert for possible activation during the worst part of the Vietnam War, Judy and I had a taste of the stress on a family caused by callup separation. Judy has also experienced this anxiety when her father, an Army Chaplain, was sent to Germany and Korea during World War ll. Today, the day after Independency Day, we should honor all of those who have preserved our independence as a free country, with liberty for all. Think of all of the pilgrims, the many immigrants who risked life and limb for all of those years helping to build the country we have today.

Looking forward, perhaps we should think about “independence” in another way. We often talk about our independence as a country first, and the advantages that we enjoy. But, how do we keep it growing? What about the other word, dependency? Are we not dependent on others, also? Are we not responsible for supporting others, to work against the bigotry and bias that infects us today? These problems are as deadly to civility as is the current coronavirus plague that has changed our world forever. There likely won’t be a return to ‘the normal’. What will be our ‘new normal’? What can we do to be part of the solution and not the problem? Let’s think and pray together to find the answers.