The good 'ol USA

To see the "forty shades of green" in Ireland certainly reveals why the island nation is called the "Emerald Isle," an expression used by Dr. E. J. Drennan in the poem "Erin" in the early 1800s. The lush greenery covering the hills and valleys, the rock walls intertwined around the pastures and fields, make an unforgettable, picturesque scene. Friendly people in the sparsely populated country make you welcome at every turn. The delightful regional accents are understandable at times and at others, not at all.

The scenery, the food, and the people were all that we expected and more.

England, a bustling, prosperous, diverse country that still has a rural flavor when you get away from the large cities, was enjoyable to visit, even on the crowded subway, or, as the Brits call it, "The Tube." It is a much different place than it was just a few years ago. The huge influx of immigrants introducing other cultures and the influence of the European Union is seen everywhere.

Scotland, rich in history and tradition, but with a lagging economy, was a delight. The rugged countryside of the highlands with the shaggy highland cattle and flocks of sheep that dot the landscape are all a part of the flavor and tradition of Scotland. The red sandstone buildings of Glasgow give it a distinctively Scottish flavor. Again, the friendly, hospitable people made us very welcome.

I did observe that with the advent of the EU, many people from Eastern Europe—who can now move about freely—have come to Ireland and the United Kingdom to find work and to pursue their education.

It was fun. It was expensive. It was enjoyable, and it was different. By United States' standards, the countries are small and, while there is some affluence, there is not the large middle class that has grown and prospered in the United States. Modern gadgets are everywhere, but living conditions are much less spacious and more Spartan than we typically have in the USA. None of this is wrong, of course, just an observation. Spending some time there certainly makes one appreciate the physical blessings we have in this country.

Returning home to the USA really made us focus on the wonderful material prosperity that we have in this country—more space, more creature comforts, and yet in many ways, more problems. Even this great nation, with all its resources and great wealth, cannot continue to ignore the collapse of morals and the absence of godly character at every level of society, and expect to prosper and thrive.

Without morality and integrity, the whole framework of our society and way of life is crumbling, and our decline will probably accelerate very quickly, unless our beloved nation makes some basic changes in the way we live and conduct our personal lives. Our leaders, at every level of government, also need to embrace the principles of integrity and good conduct, rather than political expediency.

There is a term in the Bible for this needed change. It is called "repentance." Refer to Luke 13:1-5 and 2 Peter 3:9.

So, while we were very happy to touch down in the good 'ol USA, where we presently have such abundance, we pray that our nation will heed the plain warnings in Scripture of what lies ahead for a sinful nation. At Tomorrow's World, we write articles and booklets on this subject which can be ordered free of any charge at www.tomorrowsworld.org.