I Pledge Allegiance

"I dedicate...I dedicate... I dedicate to you this song." As you are reading those words, imagine me singing in my Brandy voice circa 1994.

1994 was the year that I graduated high school. It was the year I turned 18. 1994 was also the first year that I dedicated myself someone. I swore to protect him. I swore to fight in whatever way it was necessary to defend him. I pledged my allegiance to him. And then, I quit.

I stopped fighting for my friend because it was too hard. I stopped fighting for him because sometimes he wasn't very nice to me. I stopped fighting for him because I was 18 and I didn't have any real idea what fighting for him or pledging my allegiance to him meant. I vowed to stand by him through everything, but I gave up.

This is the cycle that many of us take in life. We become passionate about a person or a cause and we pledge our undying allegiance. We say it is out of love or commitment. We dive headfirst into sustaining a friendship or raising awareness for a cause. We go through rituals designed to prove how strong our allegiance is. Then, we succumb to a change of feelings or the hands of time. We forget how important that person was to us when we first met. We forget how on fire we were to spread the word about breast cancer, recycling, or church. We forget that we pledged our allegiance in the presence of God.

I pledge allegiance means that my feelings will not dictate my faithfulness. I will not exert more energy when I am happy. I will not slack off when I am sad. I pledge allegiance means that I will not turn away when things get hard and I am weary. I pledge allegiance means that I will be rooted in my commitment and not falter. I will stand boldly in the trenches and fight even if it's from dusk til dawn.

I pledge allegiance and I will do any and everything to honor what I say. I will consider my commitment before I make it. I will be sure that for everything I pledge that I've counted the cost. I will recognize that even when I pledge my allegiance to a man, woman, boy, or girl that I am doing so in the presence of God.

It is a trap to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider one's vows.

Proverbs 20:25

Adayinthelife :-)