"Remembering our Destiny"
The words to the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” were born in the heart of Julia W. Howe while visiting a Union Army Camp on the Potomac River near Washington D.C.
“I awoke in the grey of the morning, and as I lay waiting for dawn, the long lines of the desired poem began to entwine themselves in my mind, and I said to myself, “I must get up and write these verses, lest I fall asleep and forget them!”
So
I sprang out of bed and in the dimness found an old stump of a pen,
which I remembered using the day before. I scrawled the verses almost
without looking at the paper.” - - - - Julia W. Howe.
I have studied the War Between the States to some small degree, I find the more I study it the less I understand it. Each has their version, each has their cause and their blame. I find Pundits on both sides, but I also find patriots.
If I try and remove the things I now know and place myself in their time, I wonder where my allegiance would have fallen?
My
Great Great Grandfather Bivens gave his allegiance to the South, my
Great Great Grandfather Britt gave his to the North. What a difficult
time it must have been.
Each claimed their cause was just, each leaned upon the God of our Fathers for their help and comfort. Yet I find, though not so popular, another view. One that neither side readily accepts, but one that is hinted at by leaders on both sides.
A view of a nation gone astray, one that had lost it way and taken a path from its Destiny. One who had taken a course to pursue it’s own desires and pleasures and allowed it’s purpose to be clouded from it’s view. One who wanted to hold on to God’s hand, yet walk in it’s own way.
Thus a strong hand of Judgment found it’s way, a terrible price this nation did have to pay.
This Memorial Day, among our festivities, let us remember lives of those it has cost to preserve for us this great Purpose and Destiny. Over the years it has been laid at our foundation, carved in our monuments, and etched in our Documents. May it continue to burn upon our hearts “One Nation Under God”.
May God bless each of you,
David
Julia Ward Howe
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored,
He has loosed the fateful lightening of His terrible swift sword
His truth is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps
l can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps
His day is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnish`d rows of steel,
"As ye deal with my contemners, So with you my grace shall deal;"
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel
Since God is marching on.
Since God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
He has sounded form the trumpet that shall never call retreat
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet!
Our God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
ln the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
While God is marching on.
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
While God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
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