Most people remember 1776 as the year the United States of America proudly declared its independence from Great Britain while forgetting the devastation of the second half of that year. It got so dire that by December 1776, Thomas Paine penned the famous words, “These are the times that try men’s souls.”
Our forebears had to fight for their independence. It didn’t come free. And now we are caught in an equally dangerous conflict that doesn’t involve powder and muskets, but power and markets.
Modern Struggles
We are trapped in a seemingly inescapable prison of temptation, debt, and misery. But we can fight for our independence once more. Many are struggling with job security, money problems, relationship breakdowns, and more. I’m not immune to them. I lost my long-time job last year and found a new one after eight months of arduous searching. So I feel your pain if you’re in the same boat.
We once again find ourselves in the times that try men’s souls. The form is different, but the stakes are the same. We are fighting for our liberty and self-determination. Our ancestors fought and overcame despair. What will we do? Will we repent, ask God for help, seek miracles, do our best to make them happen, forgive others, be honest, and cease being prideful? I hope so.
Looking Past 1776
We all have weaknesses we must overcome to be happy. There are serious problems that are out of our hands to fix. Remember what I said about power and markets? We would do well to focus on what we can control, like our own actions. We can change. We can let the trial of our souls help us rise and become better than we have been. We can look past 1776 and hope to live to see 1783 when the war is won.
I say, let’s rejoice in our hard times. Not because they’re fun to go through, but because they have the power to refine us. When you look back at different periods of your life, didn’t the hardest ones produce the most personal growth? And didn’t they help you find more humility and reach greater heights than you otherwise could have?
Maybe I’m just putting words in your mouth and projecting my own thoughts onto others. I don’t seek out challenges. But I try to face them with dignity when they come.
This year, we are celebrating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. But we must also remember what a challenging time that was. I trust that we will weather our own storms, just as they did. After all, no Paine, no gain.
This is the Deja Reviewer bidding you farewell until we meet again.
All images are the copyright of their respective owners.
Want to Support the Deja Reviewer? If you’d like to support the Deja Reviewer, please consider donating a few dollars to keep this site going strong. I’ll even send you an original joke if you do! Try it, and prepare to enjoy a good chuckle. $5.00
