In these contentious times it’s good to feel the freshness that the winds of change are bringing to our battered sensibilities. We finally have a new administration due to take over the reins of government that portends a return to freedom, to sanity, and to greater expectations. It took more than 80 million Americans to voice both their displeasures against the outgoing administration as well as to make a positive statement that they want and expect a return to the values that actually made America great. It also took 35 court rulings to help stop a “pretender to the throne” in his quest to overturn the will of the people. He was stopped cold in his tracks. He was apparently surprised to learn that neither high voter participation, nor skin color are good legal arguments for tossing out valid votes in America.

Today, as I watched each of the new candidates for cabinet offices step forward and state their personal experiences while honoring our Constitution and the values stated therein, I was overwhelmed with positive emotions. I was reminded of my own days when as a young man I pledged to “preserve and protect the Constitution” for much longer periods of time and in more forbidding locations than our outgoing commander-in-chief would ever know.

When it’s all said and done, what does any of us have to show for our days on Earth apart from our integrity and a soul that is not for sale? Maybe this...

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!

America! America!
God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!