07 May 2011

I thought I was coming to a dry, flat place when I came to Tyler, Texas. After 10 years of constant travel around the world — to 23 countries — I am ready for a rest and coming here to East Texas near the grandchildren seemed like a good choice. But, honestly, if it weren’t for the pull of grandkids, I’d probably end up somewhere else.

The Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast Thursday morning convinced me of the error of my ways. East Texas is not dry or flat…it is full of abundant Life. My new community is filled with family of the other kind — the family of faith. I didn’t expect that.

As I have been trekking around in those 23 countries teaching music and preparing young missionaries to use a variety of the arts to communicate Jesus to the folks who don’t know Him — or maybe even have not heard His name — I am frequently embarrassed by my nationality. Everyone I’ve talked to had a different opinion about what the United States did (or did not do) right or wrong.

I can usually handle those disparate opinions and focus on the one-on-one relationship with my international friends, but what was really difficult was coming home for visits and seeing that my country was not the same nation I left 10 years ago. And I don’t just mean they tore down the old Five and Dime to make room for another strip mall. The people have changed — the values and the basic moral fiber of America.

This has been a sad and shocking revelation and makes me wonder where my home truly is. Thursday morning I found it. The America I remember came together at tThis has been a sad and shocking revelation and makes me wonder where my home truly is. Thursday morning I found it. The America I remember came together at the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast in Tyler, Texas. he Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast in Tyler, Texas.

When I walked into the city’s Harvey Convention Center where the breakfast was held, the first thing that struck me was, “these people don’t fool around when they decorate with red, white and blue.” Balloons were everywhere. It was a party celebrating the National Day of Prayer.

On my table alone there were no less than 33 images of our nation's flag. My eyes have been hungry for our flag. The large crowd milled about greeting old friends. Matt and Megan Magill and David Berryhill led songs of worship along with the Smith County Choir swaying in unison — a uniformed group of armed and ready public servants joyfully giving credit where credit is due — to our Lord who “wakes me up every morning and sets me on my way.”

On the way out a friend remarked, “You could feel from the start that there was a special spirit of unity here. Either someone has spent considerable time in prayer preparing this event, or maybe it was just the very weight of what we are doing …gathering as Americans to acknowledge who is really in charge.”

Whatever it was, I could feel the difference, too. And it brought back my hope. Thank you, Tyler.

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