Echo in the streets

Tall towers dwarf the residents below as they hurriedly scamper about the city.  Apexes of historical beauty, these building provide rich history of a people who, from nothing, discovered a great nation, a nation of the people, by the people and for the people.  If these buildings could talk they would speak of times when life was not faceted by planes of gold, where truth meant honesty and family included the neighbors next door.  People often say life was simpler in these times...simpler?  Surviving harsh winters with fire as the only source of warmth, reading by candlelight, the performance of frontal lobe lobotomies to "cure" mental disease or how about suffering plagues, being exiled from one's family because of an unknown mark upon the skin feared to spread to the masses. Oh, yes times were so much easier without the modern conveniences we cherish today.  Life was not easier, it was not simpler people were simply moral.  Arguments for separation of church and state mattered not for people lived their faith.  Religions coexisted, sure their were discussions and disagreements but it was respectful as the majority respected the Ten Commandments and the Greatest Commandment; they were taken seriously, they were lived and people were held accountable for their actions.  Skirting responsibility, blaming others for individual responsibilities was nonexistent for love of neighbor, respect for self and hope for a people was the driving force.  People were not guilted into church services rather they attended that they may be rejuvenated from the arduous work week. Time was spent with the family around a meal in which they gave thanks to their Creator.  Ah, if these buildings could talk, they would recall times when greetings would be exchanged on the streets, eyes would meet unlike today when shoes are all one sees.  Amoral at best, our society has replaced love of neighbor with prideful absorption of self; do not steal translates into do not get caught and do unto others has been identified with revenge.  "Gods" are popping up everywhere; money, fame, popularity as the need for more grows, the need for our one true God lessens thus devaluing our society.  Now we are lucky if we could even recognize our neighbor in a store, students determine the fate of their actions as teachers must decide whether students actions warrant a verbal altercation with parents or are to just be forgotten.  "What's in it for me?", "How does this help me?", "Why am I here, I can gain nothing from this?"; these are phrases which readily roll off the tongue as people offer assistance only when it is convenient for them or when their lives are not displaced by helping another.   Long gone are the days of inspired faith and genuine spirits for these have been replaced by latent excuses serving as deflections of responsibility.  Not wanting to get involved, we look away when the stranger is in need fearful of violent repercussions, fearful of others seeing our generosity and expecting the same treatment, fearful of losing our edge of prideful convictions.  Society was not always this way and it need not remain self absorbed and faithless.  Found on a plaque in city hall is the Prayer of Benjamin Franklin, it reads as follows:

"And thou Philadelphia, the virgin settelment of this province, named before thou wert born, what love, what care, what service, and travail have there been to bring thee forth and preserve thee from such as would abuse and 

defile thee.  O that thou mayest be kept from the evil that would overwhelm thee.  That, faithful to the God of thy mercies, in life of righteousness thou mayest be preserved to the end.  My soul prays to God for thee, that thou mayest stand in the day of trial. That thy children may be blest of the Lord. And thy people saved by His power."

Eloquent words from the heart seldomly spoken for a world grounded in the mind is a world chained by the ego, challenged by love and fearful of the heart.  If these words but penetrate the mind they could rattle the soul that it could begin to fight for love; for the love of the Father tears down the walls of hatred and narcissism.  Hope for our future lies within our hearts, lies within our being for God our dwelling, God our home, God our resting place and chance for peaceful warranted change. Founded on the love and gratitude of the Father we can return to these values if we but open our heart to God that He may strengthen us with his love, endow us with fortitude that we may stand up for righteousness, stand up and face our fears and bless us with relentless faith that we may find our way even among the darkest paths.  The shadows cast by the tall buildings loom not the evils lurking about but rather resonate a prayer from yesteryears; a prayer of the heart, a prayer from the heart to return to faith-filled actions, faith-filled lives under one God.  The streets, the are desolate yet a call echoes among the buildings...familiar the voice with a hauntingly familiar message..."Come back to me, my love will heal your world of pain; we will walk together, take my hand, come back to me."  Night falls upon the city but the message forever spoken on the streets...