Puppets on Strings

I woke up early this morning...awake but not ready to crawl out of the warm bed. Laying there, my mind began to wander back over the past year. It seems like our world has had it's share of problems, all exploding basically at the same time. Of course, I know it takes years of neglect, being uninformed, relying too much on "second-hand' information, and extreme cases of self centeredness that culminate into the problems we've seen: politically, socially, spiritually, educationally, economically, militarily, etc. etc.

From where did the following come from? I don't know. It just popped into my mind. I've never even been an Aaron Tippin fan. In the early 1990's, Aaron Tippin recorded a good old country/western song called "If You Don't Stand For Something, You'll Fall For Anything".
I didn't give it much thought at the time but I realize at this time in my life what truth it holds. Here are the googled lyrics if you're not familiar; Aaron Tippin/Buddy Brock:

Now Daddy didn't like trouble, but if it came along

Everyone that knew him knew which side that he'd be on

He never was a hero, or this county's shinin' light

But you could always find him standing up

For what he thought was right
♫

He'd say you've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything

You've got to be your own man not a puppet on a string

Never compromise what's right and uphold your family name

You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything

♫

Now we might have been better off or owned a bigger house

If Daddy had done more givin' in or a little more backing down

But we always had plenty just living his advice

Whatever you do today you'll have to sleep with tonight

♫

He'd say you've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything

You've got to be your own man not a puppet on a string

Never compromise what's right and uphold your family name

You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything

♫

Now I know that things are different than they were in Daddy's days

But I still believe what makes a man really hasn't changed

♫

You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything

You've got to be your own man not a puppet on a string

Never compromise what's right and uphold your family name

You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything

♫

You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything

***************

I've heard so many times during the past year ...

"It's not my problem...let someone else fix it"

" I have my own problems. I can't go around trying to fix someone else's problems."

"This doesn't effect me. Why should I care?"

My prayer is that in 2009, people will gain a fervor and passion and begin to stand for something...holding firm to what's right and upholding family names.

Just my early morning thoughts on January 2, 2009! Peace to your household...