The second deadline for the Oklahoma Legislaturewasreached on Thursday, March 14 and many bills have fallen by the wayside. For the bills being tracked by the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA), our total has dwindled from650atthebeginningofthe session to a total of 216 remaining “alive” in the process.

We wrapped up deadline week at the Capitol. This session, we heardabout422 House Bills and Joint Resolutions.

So, what is the point? That is the ultimate question, right? The ultimate worldview question: what is the point? Ultimately, there must be a point to it all, rather than not. We humans possess the attributes that we do for somereason. Consider, the human attributes that have nothing to do with “survival of the fittest,” like the human soul and all that it entails. For example, the exclusively human capacity to think abstract thoughts; especially abstract thoughts about a God that no one can directly see or hear. Even so, there is a strong argument to be made that a great Being of which one greater cannot be conceived, exists necessarily. Let me explain.

The Legislature is in its second deadlineweek,whenbillsmustpass out of the “house of origin,” meaning House bills must pass out of the House of Representatives, and Senate bills must pass out of the State Senate, or they are dead.

“Forrest, were you scared in Vietnam,” Jenny asked. “Yes. Well, I-I don’t know. Sometimes it would stop raining long enough for the stars to come out... and then it was nice. It was like just before the sun goes to bed down on the bayou. There was always a million sparkles on the water... like that mountain lake. It was so clear, Jenny, it looked like there were two skies one on top of the other. And then in the desert, when the sun comes up, I couldn’t tell where heaven stopped and the earth began. It’s so beautiful.” What Forrest Gump was describing were “thin places”—places where his very soul was being fed by some unseen reality; some higher power. Perhaps, even the God of Christianity. So close.

Each year, the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) holds an Advocacy Day at the State Capitol to promote awareness of children’s issues before the Legislature. These ideas come from the ideas that lawmakers file in legislation, or issues which might arise from state agency work.

The American people have put up with setback after setback from the Biden administration. From increased business regulations for job creators to higher grocery bills for families— Biden has proven nothing is off-limits. Now, college-bound students are the latest victim of the administration’s negligence.

The cost of living is increasing daily, and it’s no secret that it affects our daily lives. Currently, our country is experiencing a 40-year inflation high that is causing much concern. In response to this issue, theHouseiscommittedtoproviding relief to the people of Oklahoma.

On February 7, children in an Oklahoma school got into an altercation which became violent. The day after, one of the children, 16-yearold Nex Benedict, died. The initial result of a preliminary autopsy suggests the death was not the result of trauma, but no other information has been provided; a full autopsy has not been publicly released. Speculation is rampant about the cause of Nex’s death, but there likely is not much the public will know until a full report is released by the Oklahoma State Medical Examiner.

I am an American. I was born an American and I love America. Even thhoughI'mnotaVeteran,I'llshake the hand of anyone that is. Here’s a shout out to all the hands I can not shake, who gave their lives to keep this country free.