How about in the prayer life of our “fathers”?

When the Constitutional Convention was hopelessly deadlocked in 1787, Benjamin Franklin, considered to be the least religious among the delegates then , turned the situation around by saying this reminder, “In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger,we had DAILY prayers in this room for DIVINE protection. Our prayers, Sir, were HEARD, and they were graciously ANSWERED (emphases mine). All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending Providence in our favor. And have we now forgotten this powerful Friend ? Or , do we imagine we no longer need His assistance?”

Franklin continued, “I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: ‘that God GOVERNS (emphasis mine)in the affairs of man.’ And if a sparrow canot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? I therefore beg leave to move that, henceforth, prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven and its blessing on our deliberation be held in this assembly every morning before we proceed to business.”

During the Revolutionary War American soldiers endured hunger and a critical shortage of clothes and blankets during the bitter winter at Volley Forge. Yet the men were patient and uncomplaining. How was such loyalty and hope kept alive? The answer was uncovered by those who discovered George Washington on his knees in the woods, his cheeks wet with tears as he prayed.

In 1863, during the Civil war, the Senate asked President Lincoln to designate a national day of fasting,humiliation and prayer. Lincoln’s proclamation haunts us today, “We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven, but we have forgotten God, intoxicated with unbroken success,we became self-sufficient, too proud to pray to the God that made us!” Alas! How easily we have forgotten!

Just few of the many examples we can get from our “fathers” recorded deeds. Just too profound to ignore. The depth of trust and confidence in God is rock solid. No iota of doubt nor wavering. Their anchor of faith holds on to the ROCK…which is GOD ALMIGHTY.

And so we ask, why all the fuzz with the phrase “under God” in our current Pledge ? Again, let me retreat to the early accounts written about the prime shapers and movers of this nation

On July 2, 1776 as the Continental Congress was meeting in Philadelphia to declare independence, George Washington was gathering his troops on Long Island to meet the British in battle. Washington wrote in the general order to his men that day:

“The time is now near at hand which must probably determine whether Americans are to be freemen or  slaves. The fate of unborn millions will now depend,UNDER GOD,on the courage and conduct of this army.”

Lincoln likewise echoed the same belief:

“It is for us the living,rather,to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to the cause for which they have gave the last full measure of devotion; that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation, UNDER GOD, shall have a new birth of freedom.”

In prayers and major declared thoughts,God has been the inspiration of these leaders. Gingrich said that like Washington before him, Lincoln understood that America’s new birth of freedom would require that the nation seek the source of its liberties in the same place it had prior to the Civil War, UNDER GOD.

Where is God in America? In the hearts and minds and prayers and works of our “fathers”.