Land of Promise

I have been reading a lot lately about the Middle East and its political history, as well as some current perspectives on what it is like to live there, and as we celebrated our nation's Independence Day I was touched by how the Lord established this as a land of promise. I take for granted a lot of the freedoms I enjoy, but as I am learning about the extreme limitations people around the world live under I begin to see the vastness of my blessings. Rights to education, free thought and speech, the ability to come and go as we choose are are nonexistent in much of the world. In Saudi Arabia there are women whose families refuse to let them learn to read. Imagine a life without books! In Iran you can be killed for voicing opinions contrary to those of the government. Imagine a life without free and honest communication-- this blog could not exist! In Afghanistan some women are forbidden to leave their homes! Imagine a life without friendship!

I am also grateful for the prosperity of this nation. We are an incredibly blessed people. Even our poor live lives of ease and convenience compared to most of the world. In America people living in "poverty" still have cable TV, microwaves, and their own car. In North Korea 10% of the population is starving. There are currently more than 12 million refugees around the world, most of them women and children. In Africa many children have to fend for themselves because their parents have died in war or from AIDS. In Romania it is estimated that 50,000 children are orphans.

My purpose isn't to be depressing, but to help us all to open our eyes and see the world, and in doing so to express gratitude for the priviledge it is to be born and raised in this promised land.