Why I’m Thankful as Ever to be an American

 

Things have been tense lately.  Conversations are buzzing, people are talking, Facebook posts are popping up exploring every angle.  Some are blatant, some more passive, either way divided.

 

These issues, they’re messy.  They are emotional and heated.  Discussions are passionate, divisive, embittered.

 

I get it.  I don’t want to make light of it.

I’ve shared my thoughts on it.

But when I step away from it for a minute, stop wrestling with what all of this looks like for the future of our country, the future of my children, I notice something.

 

I see the Star of Bethlehem.  The planets of Jupiter and Venus aligned within a third of a degree of each other, creating a brilliant double star.  Did you see it?

By far the brightest star in the sky, the first star out, apparent before the sun has even set. The same star those wise men saw more than 2,000 years ago.

I wonder what it felt like to drop everything and follow a star.  I have read that these wise men were watching, waiting for this.  Yet some how I think they still must have had busy lives, complicated relationships, positions to debate and discuss.

But when they saw that star, the star, none of that mattered anymore.  Perspective changed, priorities shifted.  They packed up their bags and followed it.

I’m captivated by this star.  Perspectives change, priorities shift.

I’ve felt the same way as I’ve looked at the sunrises and sunsets the past few days.  I’ve been overwhelmed by the realization of just how big this world is.  Bigger than me, than my country.  Bigger than debates and Supreme Court decisions.

Could this be the smallest taste of what Peter felt like walking on water?  Wind howling, waves crashing, eyes on Jesus, perfect peace.  Walking on water, perfect peace. Incredible.

I blinked and it’s almost the Fourth of July.  I’m a patriotic girl and I love this holiday.  I love the abundance of flags, each with their own brilliant stars.  I love barbecues, and celebrations, the family time and the food.

I love the fireworks.  Oh, the fireworks.  I hope to never outgrow the wonder, the magic of fireworks.

For a moment this feels different, celebrating in a seemingly divided country.  It feels different celebrating my country when I’m saddened by the direction of its leadership.

But in the same manner that the star and the sunset shift my perspective, so does the flag.

The flag reminds me of something bigger.  Of courageous men who stood valiantly for what they believed in.  Who bravely fought with their very lives for the values they held.  The men who suffered innumerable hardships and battles to stand firm and form a free country.

How can I not be proud of that?

 

I could live in a country where children are being lined up in firing squads and burned alive.  I could live in a country frantic and on the brink of financial ruin.  How can I look at the world around me and choose anything less than gratitude?  How can I not be thankful, choose not to thank God that I was born here?

So I will celebrate the Fourth of July with pride like every other year.  I will not minimize the efforts, the faith, the honorable acts of courage of those who went before me.  I will honor them.

We have so much to be thankful for here.  There is so much hope, opportunity, blessing, if we choose to see it, choose to stand up for it.

So I will celebrate.  Thankful for an unchanging God, thankful for brave men who went before me and thankful for hope.  Always, Hope.