Saturday morning and two loads purring, I cross the hallway to the all-purpose room at Concordia Haven II. A gusty rain, the two flags are flapping wrong-side out.

Suddenly, while reading, I look up and both flags cling to the pole in saddest manner. This arouses my emotions quickly and changes my happy disposition to ... utter fear?

It’s only 8:30 a.m. and my heart mourns as I watch the bottom flag lift its white background with a red cross and patch of blue slowly rise and give cadence to the American flag to follow promptly.

My heart and eyes still glued on this sight, I wonder how many of us recognize how far we have detoured from truth in our beloved country? I had read Psalm 78 earlier; was it connected to this horrific scene in this land “of the free and home of the brave?” Will God forgive us for straying so far?

Calming myself permitted me to say yes, he will, but we have to repent and ask forgiveness for sinning and obey his commands now. How far down the flagpole have we slid and don’t realize where we are from judgment and wrath? How much more bloodshed will it take to provoke his turning and judging this greatest land founded on principles long forsaken?

We have a vital election coming soon and I will vote, but didn’t have a clue which way until two weeks ago. Even this third party frightens me but we can still be forgiven if we turn around, repent and do so quickly.