Living The American Dream Starts Here

If you’ve read any of my blogs, you know that I love history. I love learning from what happened and looking for ways to apply those history lessons to my current attempt at navigating the present. Honestly, there are times when I go after historical facts and come away with only the benefit of understanding or discovering a new foundation of respect for something. For example, the past blogs where I’ve looked into the history of our beautiful Temecula Valley. The trove of fun facts I’ve uncovered have only built a better foundation for my love for this paradise where we live. 

The American Dream Starts Here

The title of this blog, coupled with the graphic of Benjamin Franklin driving a Tesla with his kite firmly secured in the front seat, is a fun representation of how much I think Ben would have enjoyed the idea that his famous historical kite flying experiment and his other discoveries about electrical energy impacted the entire world. The idea that there is such a thing as a horseless buggy that runs exclusively on electricity powered by a battery, a word he actually coined, would bring great joy to the wise doctor.

I could easily imagine that the modern day Ben Franklin experience would be a fulfillment of his, and the 55 other signers of the Declaration of Independence, idea of living the American dream.

Afterall, the entire concept of the United States of America was the ultimate in dream-casting. A bunch of people who had lived between 28 and 70 years came together to create a new kind of condition for living life on a daily basis. Collectively they were attempting to embrace their cultures' accepted definition of the word America as a New World. They were seeking to make the word NEW encompass all facets of life. Not just the place where their feet were but also the way in which a collective group would interpret the world. 

No matter how you feel about our country, I think you and I could agree that the task was a colossal undertaking with profound implications for their current life (or death) and the future of 340+ million people.  

If they would have been brilliant enough to hire a marketing company for their efforts, I submit the slogan could have very well been Living the American Dream Starts Here.

Desperate Disparity Divinely Delivered

Creating something completely new from the status quo is a daunting task considering this group of people were talking about changing ALL things. How does anyone look into the future boldly enough to believe they could create something that would blend, shape, and fashion the future of the most successful nation in the history of the world?

The question, in my humble opinion, has an easy answer. It has been the same process for thousands of years. All of us do it when solving a problem. We draw on what we believe to be true. All of our life experiences come together to help us to make decisions, create plans, or react to situations. 

So what did the 56 delegates believe? Some had lived 28 years. One had lived 70 years. They didn’t live in the same area. The youngest were from South Carolina. Others were from Georgia, New York, New Hampshire and all of the other famous colonial locations. In a Tesla, the distance between those areas would bring the shared experience closer. However, in that era the distance was a delimiter of the colonial experience. It’s a miracle they agreed on anything! 

They could all agree on their shared experience with British tyranny and oppression. That was their circumstance but what commonality existed among all of the delegates that guided them into this unknown territory with confidence?

All 56 delegates had a shared experience with the one, true God of the Bible. 52 of them believed that Jesus was/is God. The other four were absolutely guided by Scripture and the teachings of Jesus. It was this in-common, supernatural experience that defined the overall functionality of the Declaration of Independence.

Of One Accord

The delegation appointed a small group to draft a document that would announce their intention to be independent from British rule. The Committee of Five started on June 7th, 1776 and delivered a document on July 2nd. The original document was modified by the larger delegation and two days later the Declaration of Independence was made public. Among the first words of the document is an acknowledgement of God; “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

11 years and countless bloody battles later many of the same people (some were lost in the battles and others joined after the original document) gathered to find agreement on their disagreement about living the American dream. In the midst of their disagreement was one unifying belief in the God described in the Bible.

On July 28th of 1787 the delegates at the Constitutional Convention were at a stalemate in the creation of the “more perfect union.” Many argue the turning point was a speech given by Benjamin Franklin in which he reminded the congress of what they all knew too well. 

"I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth—that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that 'except the Lord build the House they labour in vain that build it.' [Psalm 127:1] I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel..."

By September, the constitution was ratified. 

Living The American Dream Starts Here: The Epilogue

Back to the graphic for this blog called Living The American Dream Starts Here. The road sign in the pictures says “Who governs the affairs of man?” Now Benjamin Franklin was never quoted using these words but he did make it clear that when it comes to God, Living the American Dream Starts Here. 

My American Dream here in the Temecula Valley is rich in peace and joy because I’ve adopted the same principles as the founders of the beautiful nation. God governs my affairs no matter the circumstance and no matter the division around me. 

If you are struggling, I would love to share with you my experience that has brought me a peace that surpasses all understanding. After the celebration of the 250th anniversary of our national independence… let’s you and I have coffee.