A Time and Place

A Time and Place dan skognes motivation blogger speaker teacher trainer coach educatorThere is a proverb which says, “There is a time and place for everything.” That means there is a time to kneel and a time to stand. I was reminded of the proverb Monday night at the beginning of the Cowboys’ football game.

Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys did something totally unexpected, and it was beautiful. They knelt in unity on the field before the National Anthem, and stood in unity during the National Anthem. It was brilliant.

Our country is deeply divided on so many issues. I think that is why this kneeling thing got so much hype. It is not about kneeling…it is about “rights.” The problem seems to be when your rights come into direct opposition to my rights, who is right? How do you resolve that when both sides have rights? Respect.

You don’t have to agree with one another to just show respect. My rights don’t outweigh your rights, and yours don’t outweigh mine. We can’t change each another. We may be able to influence and encourage one another…but we have to respect one another if we expect to have any peace or progress.

My hope and prayer is this: May we set aside our “rights” when they are in direct conflict with our brother. May we seek to understand and think outside the box to find common ground. May we realize that there is a time and place for everything. We don’t have to compromise our morals, our core beliefs, or who we are. We just have to be willing to show respect for the other person and allow them to be different.

I pray this over our President, our Congress, our NFL, our churches, our civic organizations, and all the various ethnic groups which make up America. We are a diverse country with a common goal of freedom. That freedom comes with a price, and we can’t forget those who have paid the price on the battlefield so we can play on the football field.

There is a time and place for everything. I believe that we can come together as a country and truly show the world why America is great. Shalom!

Dan Skognes

2 Responses to “A Time and Place”

  1. queendjh says:

    I wish The Dallas Cowboys actions could be come a pattern for other sports teams. But who knows if the one kneeling isn’t praying? I will join your in that Great prayer and I’m posting just the prayer on my face book page Dan.