Mental Fitness Challenge - Day 65

Been pretty busy lately and haven't been able to post an update on the Mental Fitness Challenge-sorry!

Today, July 4th, we are working on day 65 and appropriately the resolution being worked on this week is Resolution # 10 - Conflict Resolution. It states RESOLVED: To develop the art and science of conflict resolution. I know that relationship bombs and unresolved conflicts destroy a community's unity and growth.

I think it is appropriate because while we are learning about the importance of resolving conflict, we celebrate the 236th anniversary of a group of 57 RASCALS, who got together and determined that they had had enough. They were not able to resolve conflict with a tyrant and therefore had to take a stand and declare their new nation's independence from the English crown.

Often times I think that, living so far removed from that time, we forget what these men gave in order to secure our freedom. The very last line of their declaration states it perfectly:

"And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor."


Many of them suffered incredible hardships and lost everything, including Thomas Jefferson who lost his wife and newborn baby due to complications from hiding in the snow while the British invaded his home.

Leadership author, Chris Brady, states in his book RASCAL: Making A Difference By Becoming An Original Character:


"For them, it was no vain boast. They were well known, educated, propertied, influential, family men risking it all for the cause of liberty.


Although their cause would ultimately prevail, these men would pay dearly for their boldness. All were singled out for capture for treason. As a result, most would suffer the persecution of manhunts. Several had sons die in the war. Many lost most if not all of their property. Some were forever separated from their families. Nine died of wounds either from battle or imprisonment. Indeed, when these men pledged 'their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor,' many were forced to sacrifice the first two. None, however, gave up the third. Each of the fifty-six signers of the Declaration of Independence held fast to his declaration, refusing to give up, turn back, turncoat, or surrender."

We should never forget what not only these men but the many, many other men and women who have since that time given everything to preserve those freedoms that our founders secured for us.

May God bless you as you continue to fight to preserve our freedoms for the next generation!

God Bless!
Jason Jasper