When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation (Declaration of Independence). A very interesting beginning to a subsequent list of causes by a people, of which, it could be said individually and or collectively, have perhaps become guilty of violating while in the course of human events; slavery, civil war, suffrage,  civil rights, women’s rights, LGBTI rights, immigration…etc. If in fact we are a people under God why is it that humankind imposes such abuses on humankind? Perhaps we should first declare our faith in God without boundary and without restriction that we may be so bold as to reach out on behalf of one another, because in doing so we reach out to God. Whether we relate to the unnamed hemorrhaging woman, Jairus the synagogue official or any one of today’s marginalized people, every battle  great and small is a struggle for some kind of freedom or independence. So let us also celebrate a spiritual independence to rightful action, that we may encourage each other to be who God has graciously called us to be and live for his purpose and glory and not our own.