These Are Still the 'Times that Try Men's Souls'

"These are the times that try men's souls." This is a quote from Thomas Paine’s The American Crisis, meant to rally support for the American Revolution and inspire people to keep fighting. Though the Revolution is history now, these are still the times that try men’s souls.

The quote was found in the first of Paine’s series of pamphlets, and General George Washington ordered the pamphlets read to his men to boost their resolve. I won’t be reading them to you today, but I will talk about the same strength and resolve needed today and why.

Men’s and women’s souls are being tried. Opinions about politics, health, education, and even sports have gotten ugly, perhaps uglier than they’ve ever been. Some seem incapable to just agree to disagree anymore. For example, a friend shared something on social media and included encouraging, thoughtful words. It didn’t take long before someone left a comment, calling her a Nazi. Was her post about hurting, mistreating, or demeaning people? No, her post was about wanting children to be healthy and being open-minded about that. There was nothing in what she said that merited her being attacked verbally by being designated a Nazi. If that doesn’t try you!