Next week our country will celebrate her 236th birthday. With parades, picnics, and phireworks (had to do that to keep the p’s) – our country will celebrate another year. When you stop to reflect on that day, think about how much we have been blessed as a nation.
If you have ever travelled abroad you know there is no place like the USA. There are wonderful places to go, but there is no places like home. I am thankful for how God has blessed us over these years. However, we are seeing a change.
Forty years ago, guys like Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, Bill Gates, Michael Dell, and others had a dream to bring technology to your desk in your home. While their approach differed, they had dreams and worked to pursue their dreams. Years prior brought us innovation from the likes of Henry Ford, the Wright brothers, and many more who dreamt and built their vision for all of us. I would be amiss if I did not mention the dream of Truett Cathy to make sure we all had a chicken sandwich!
While those names are the big ones, our county has been full of people who have struggled to provide and never quit regardless of the circumstances. Their moral character led them to do what had to be done to provide for their family and themselves. By the sweat of their brow, they pursued their dream’s regardless of what those dreams may have been – and they reduced to give up. In the area of personal finance, they were content to live within their means and struggled to provide.
Today, I am afraid that many pursue a dream of what they can get from someone else and believe that someone owes them something. Too many are content with sitting on the side, not pursuing something better, and depending on everyone else to take care of them. That is not what made America great. So there is no confusion, I am not writing on those who need and deserve help because of the handicap that they may have – I am referring to those who do not want to work to get ahead.
Quite frankly, I think America is losing her ability to dream and achieve.
Yes, there will still be a Mark Zuckerburg, a Mark Pincus, or a Tyler Perry. Will we still have those who really want to dream and make something of themselves instead of living off the leftovers? Will we get back to personal responsibility and building the life we want. We live in the greatest country in the world that affords us that opportunity – assuming we do not turn that ability over to our government.