We recognize major cities by the patterns of buildings streaked across the sky. We recognize health issues by the pattern of symptoms interrupting our ability to perform well. We recognize weather by the patterns of clouds, wind, and rain. We recognize music by the patterns and variations of the melodic themes. Patterns govern our existence.

Young students study the patterns of art and number lines. Older people study and recognize the patterns of individuals in their childhood, teens, 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, etc. Life is patterned by the trends of each generation. There are political patterns. There are religious patterns; the Bible is full of foreshadowing of future events. There are even genetic patterns. These patterns become the memorabilia for ages past and ages yet to come.

It is not enough to be a spectator in your life; you must become a team player and learn the plays, the patterns. Too many of us have comfortably sat on the sidelines and watched political bulldozers uproot our American image, foundation. Entertainment value has become our American pastime. We have become a nation that is consumed by the ranting and ravings of the undisciplined. We marvel at ignorance, perversion, and trend setting. We seem to have thrown the baby out with the bath water. We are our own worst enemy.

We are a nation built on ideals and laws. When we fail to practice the patterns of our wise forefathers, we are subjecting ourselves and others to high risk behaviors. We have made lawlessness the model for our schools, our government, and yes, even our churches. The patterns of American lawlessness are evident in the industries that are failing and crumbling. It is like the Bubonic plague, Black Death, has hit again. Our nation is falling.

It is evident that unemployment is hurling like hot lava from the mouth of an erupting volcano. The jaws of uncertainty are clamping down on employees like never before. Employers do not need to yield to law and order because that is an “old” ideology. Today, it is survival of the fittest. Employers have become like the plantation owners of the old South; no sick pay, no personal time off for funerals, no medical benefits, no retirement benefits etc. Employment has become a game for who can pay less and get more, more, more.

$160,000.00 college tuition fees have become as good as monopoly money. We have invested time and money into college educations without facing the reality of the job market. College diplomas are a dime a dozen and jobs are scarce. Unless you know someone, it is hard to find a job, accept retail, and even that is doubtful in today’s economy.

We all need to step into the game and start playing. We need to unplug our children from too much technology. Research indicates that the brain manifests what it is fed. A constant diet of technology is an invitation to a brain dead culture. Our ability to think and reason is being swallowed by our overuse of machines to think for us.

Our freedoms are contingent on our ability to be participants in everything we do. When we stop participating, we are giving evil doers the opportunity to feed us to the lions. Romans loved to be spectators at gladiator events. If history repeats itself, it is time to start recognizing the patterns in our current American culture and modify our norms before the norms start modifying us.

"It’s not whether we win or lose, but how we will play the game." Get in the game and play America!