THOUGHT FROM  BETH’S DESK

A Cry of Defiance, and Not of Fear… 

By Beth Schoenberg

Listen my children and you shall hear

Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere…

… One if by land, and two if by sea;…

… You know the rest.  In the books you have read

How the British Regulars fired and fled,---

How the farmers gave them ball for ball,

From behind each fence and farmyard wall,

Chasing the redcoats down the lane,

Then crossing the fields to emerge again

Under the trees at the turn of the road,

And only pausing to fire and load….

… The fate of a nation was riding that night;

Hopefully you recognize these short random tidbits from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s, “Paul Revere’s Ride.”  I encourage all of you to familiarize yourself with this classic literary piece.  I’ve  picked out only a few lines which I wanted to share with you today but the poem deserves reading and perhaps even memorizing, should you be so inclined. 

Those of you who listen regularly to the Common Sense Coalition—The Derry Brownfield Show, heard as I shared my recent adventures with the Appleseed Project when I participated in a day of shooting a rifle.  (wwwappleseedinfo.org)  The Appleseed Project is comprised of men and women dedicated to teaching American citizens the proper instruction of  how to handle and shoot a rifle as well as the proper safety measures. We intend to interview these men again and I have promised to return to a shoot one day and hopefully qualify for rifleman (or riflewoman).  I believe these men and women to be patriots who are doing their part to keep American citizens ready for defense at all times. 

Along with the gun-handling instructions and safety lesson, these shoots attempt to remind us of our history and our heritage as Americans.  The colonists had no “organized” army but a militia of citizens that defended and fought for the liberty and freedoms we enjoy today.  We were a continent of rebel citizens being governed by a tyrannical king who had bullying-governing ways.  The colonies had no representation and were expected to jump and pay the toll as dictated.  However, we had patriots in that day that were ready for a freedom – envisioning a country where opportunity was free for those who were willing to work hard.  Men, leaders that had a faith in God stood strong; many of whom believed this land was not only a new opportunity for personal property ownership and prosperity but a land that had the opportunity and duty to evangelize the Christian gospel.

There is much American history to be treasured and passed down generation to generation.  Should we forget the circumstances and the sacrifices that were made for the greater good, we will cease to profit from those and our liberties and freedoms will most certainly be lost forever.

Enduring strength is only possible with the proper foundation.  Whether you’re building a house, a high-rise complex or raising a child, it’s important to have a strong foundation.  Christ is that foundation and it is only when we depend on Him that we are able to stand strong and steadfast; relying on personal strength is useless 

We must make sure our citizens remember the history of our country and the sacrifices made by our founding fathers.  True patriots are not in Washington DC but are the very heart and soul of our land; teachers, mechanics, farmers, ranchers, storekeepers, laborers, secretaries, accountants, electricians, policeman, nurses, doctors, songwriters, preachers, carpenters, inventors, fireman, pilots, loggers… factory workers – white collar and blue collar…assorted shapes, sizes and ethnicities,  we are America and ALL of us have an obligation to God and to Country to stand for righteousness. 

I believe much is taken for granted these days and we all fail to know and understand our history.  I heard it said once that it is a personal responsibility to stay “in shape” in case you are needed to protect or endure a disaster.  We have that responsibility personally and nationally; to stay fit and be ready for disaster or invasion.  Staying prepared and ready is our greatest defense personally and nationally.  Only God knows what lurks around the corner of our futures and He does expect us to react and protect the innocent. 

Knowing how to shoot a rifle was the only defense this country had at the time of our Revolution… it was the “common man” that sacrificed and fought for freedom.  True the percentage of those willing to fight was in the minority but they were the strength and they were victorious in their endeavor – but their victory was not without great sacrifice. Freedom is never free! 

…Meanwhile, impatient to mount and ride,

Booted and spurred, with a heavy stride

On the opposite shore walked Paul Revere.

Now he patted his horse’s side,

Now he gazed at the landscape far and near,

Then impetuous, stamped the earth,

And turned and tightened his saddle girth;

But mostly he watched with eager search

The belfry tower of the Old North Church,

As it rose above the graves on the hill,

Lonely and spectral and somber and still.

And lo! As he looks, on the belfry’s height

A glimmer, and then a gleam of light!

He springs to the saddle, the bridle he turns,

But lingers and gazes, till full on this sight

A second lamp in the belfry burns…

…. So through the night rode Paul Revere;

And so through the night went his cry of alarm

To every Middlesex village and farm,---

A cry of defiance, and not of fear,

A voice in the darkness, a knock at the door,

And a word that shall echo for evermore!

For, borne on the night-wind of the Past,

Through all our history, to the last,

In the hour of darkness and peril and need,

The people will waken and listen to hear

The hurrying hoof-beats of that steed,

And the midnight message of Paul Revere.

Are we listening now and heeding the call

As our country’s integrity continues to fall? 

Our freedoms and liberty cannot be preserved

Unless “we the people” make ourselves heard. 

The alarm rang out many years ago –

Crying out to arms-to arms, Paul Revere rode

The direction was given, written and signed…

The path was paved and a Constitution designed,

Based on God’s laws and instructions for life

Upon His Laws only will true liberty strive…

Okay, perhaps that was my cheap attempt at poetry but I hope you understood the call to arms is ringing now – it’s up to each of us to be steadfast and true to first and foremost, God’s Word but I challenge you to study our US Constitution as well as The Declaration of Independence and your state’s constitution and know the truth.  Take action as best you can… Change is not what we need, what we need is to go back to the simplicity of our origin…  As the poem stated, A cry of defiance, and not of fear…  If we have knowledge of our foundation we have no reason to fear and every reason to stand in defiance and act accordingly…

Support groups such as Appleseed Project and Paragon Foundation, whom you know are fighting for our Constitution and standing on the true history of our Country; acting honorably for our Founding Fathers as well as the many soldiers that have fought for this country throughout its history…  AND I might add, as you stop to give thanks this month, maybe read a little history as well as a Psalm at your dinner table – Giving Thanks to God and honoring those that made it possible for you to sit comfortably in your homes without fear…

Thoughts from Beth’s Desk is a regular feature of

The Common Sense Chronicle

A monthly newsletter of The Common Sense Coalition, the Derry Brownfield Show~

www.derrybrownfield.com