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Governor George Deukmejian - by Permission
(This talk was given on April 21, 2000 at a Good Friday Prayer Breakfast in Long
Beach, CA. The material is included with the permission of former Governor Deukmejian, of California)
YMCA Good Friday Prayer
Breakfast-Gov. Deukmejian
It is a genuine pleasure to be here with so many good friends to share this very
special morning. If this is a little too early for some of you, just remember the
words of Robert Frost when he said, "The brain is a remarkable instrument. It
starts working the moment you get up in the morning – and it doesn’t quit until
you get to the office!"
It is a genuine honor for me to participate in this Annual YMCA Good Friday tradition.
They have a similar tradition in Sacramento, only it is known as the
Governor’s Prayer Breakfast. It is the third of three noteworthy events that
take place at the start of each New Year. First, the Legislature returns to
Sacramento. Then the Governor submits his new budget – and after that, everyone
starts praying for him!
In fact, they gave me my first prayer breakfast just 17 days after I took office.
Someone apparently thought I needed a lot of help right away!
As community leaders, I think we would do well to recall the time that the great
abolitionist leader of the 19th century, Senator Charles Sumner, was asked to
come to the aid of a certain constituent. But as he explained to his friend Julia Ward
Howe, "Julia, I’ve become so busy that I can no longer concern myself with
individuals." And she replied, "That’s quite remarkable, Charles.
Even God hasn’t reach that stage yet."
Unfortunately, history tells us that many rulers and governments have neglected the
rights and aspirations of the individual. Even in America, we sometimes forget why
our country was founded in the first place – to be the world’s garden of
opportunity where individuals can grow and prosper. A land where dreams, both humble
and grand, can come true. Yet, despite all the blessings of our modern society
– the advances in health, science, communications and quality of life –
sometimes in this ceaseless spiral of progress and change, those individual dreams get
lost.
Every person has value. Every individual is unique. Every child has dreams. God
recognizes that. America was founded on that belief. And we should never forget it.
What, after all, explains why America has become a beacon of hope, freedom and
prosperity for all of mankind? Some say it is our treasure chest of natural
resources. Others point to our productive economic system that rewards initiative,
hard work and creativity. Still others say it is that skillful blend of freedom and
opportunity immortalized so eloquently in our Declaration of Independence and
Constitution.
All these are precious blessings. But I believe the real secret of our success is
something else. America has always had faith in the individual and American
individuals have always had faith in God.
President Eisenhower may have put it best when he said, "Without God there could
be no American way of life. Recognition of the Supreme Being is first – the
most basic expression in Americanism."
Indeed throughout our history – not only in churches, synagogues and meeting halls
– but also in the waiting lines at Ellis Island, on wagon trains heading west, in
prisoner of war camps, Americans have called upon God and asked for His blessings.
We have sought His strong, sure hand on our shoulders.
Today, we have gathered to recall that "God so loved the
world, that He gave His only begotten Son, to the end that all that believe in Him should
not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
We have no lengthy petition to present – although sometimes it is tempting to pray
to win the lottery. We have come together to give our thanks. To ask His
blessings. To seek His strength. To do His will.
We ask only that God grant us those gifts that are so important in our lives – the
courage to make difficult decisions; the conviction to do what we believe is right; the
confidence that we can create a better future for every single one of God’s unique
children.
They tell the story about one of those children, a little girl who was given the
assignment to memorize and recite the 23rd Psalm. She didn’t do a
very good job with her task, but in her own way, she spoke from the heart. She said,
"The Lord is my shepherd – and that’s all I
want".
Well, I’m sure God answered her prayer, just has He answers the prayers of both
the mightiest and weakest among us.
There is a verse in the Book of Acts that has universal application: "In truth I have come to understand that God has no favorites, but in every
nation he who loves God and acts with God-likeness is acceptable to God"
(transliteration of Acts 17:26-27).
America’s leaders have always called on God and we thank God for that. But
so have the most humble. Those new arrivals who for four hundred years have come to
this continent with nothing but faith, virtue, integrity, perseverance, patience and
godliness.
And here they discovered a simple truth that shines as brightly whether you are a
president or a pauper, man or woman, black or white, Asian or Hispanic, or whether your
family has been in America ten days or ten generations. If you have faith in God and
the freedom that is America, there’s just no limit to what you can accomplish for
your family and your fellow man.
America is still perfecting that promise here in our own land. We still have a
ways to go before we can truly say that we are living up to our ideals. But we are
the freest, most tolerant, most open and most prosperous society on earth – and we
have a profound responsibility to share our positive message with all peoples.
America’s beacon of hope must shine brightly enough for all to see, even in the
darkest dungeons of the world.
Faith in God, and the freedom of the American dream – what a powerful combination.
The first, an ancient enduring covenant with our Maker. The second, a bold,
brash celebration of the human spirit, one that’s growing, changing and climbing new
peaks every day.
As we begin this challenging new millennium in America, let us make God’s respect
for the individual our own. Let’s make equal opportunity more than just a
slogan or a dream but a bold American reality. And as community leaders, let us
always remember that in order to be good public servants, we must be God’s servants
as well. If we adhere to His laws. If we give thanks daily for His blessings.
If we seek to know and to do God’s will, then we can’t go wrong –
because His strength will be our strength, and His love for us will be reflected in our
love and respect for each other.
Thank you and God bless you.
_____________________________________________
Contact us through
Ron@FridayStudy.org
Ron Beckham, Pastor
Friday Study Ministries
www.fridaystudy.org
Ron@fridaystudy.org |
