My July 4th celebration (and my thoughts on the holiday)

I have always loved the Fourth of July.  The food, the family, the fireworks, the fun.  It has always been one of my favorite holidays.  Growing up, our neighborhood had a "parade" and everybody who wanted to participate dressed up their bikes with red, white, and blue streamers and followed behind the fire trucks through the neighborhood to the local park, throwing candy to the people watching from their driveways.  Then the fire department served lemonade and Blue Bell ice cream afterwards.  Later that evening we would get together with extended family and eat lots of burgers and watermelon and flag cake, and then go outside to shoot off fireworks.  I always liked to shoot the Roman Candles at the street lights because the burst of the firework would trick the light into shutting off for a few seconds.  (Incidentally, Roman Candles, Bottle Rockets, and all fireworks that actually shoot up into the air are against the law here in Maryland...lame!)

This year we gathered with friends and ate lots of food and James set off some fireworks.  We had a great time.  But this year I've also been thinking more about what the Fourth of July actually means.  And I've been a bit uneasy with it. 

Independence from Britain.  The birth of a new nation.  It sounds good.  But as with anything, this came at a price - the Revolutionary War.  Brother fighting against brother.  Killing. 

I'm no historian, so I won't pretend that I understand all the reasons behind the Revolutionary War.  But I know that with any war, human selfishness and greed play a part, and people die because of it.  And I believe that this grieves God.  Jesus said do not repay evil with evil, and turn the other cheek.  Jesus said to love your neighbor as yourself.  No matter how "good" the intentions, war violates this.

I think patriotism is good...up to a point.  It's fine to take pride in your country.  There are many things to be proud of.  But we as Christians have to view the world as best we can from a Godly perspective.  Not from a national perspective.  America, just like every other country, has done some pretty awful things in the name of justice, in the name of exploration, in the name of the pursuit of happiness, even in the name of God.  These things I am not proud of.  These things I ask God to forgive.

But there are still many things to be proud of.  So this Fourth of July, I am choosing to celebrate the good stuff.  I am celebrating our freedom.  Freedom to believe in God without harassment, freedom to speak of my faith without repercussion.  Freedom to vote for whomever I wish, freedom to speak my mind, freedom to own property and travel wherever I want to.  We have many blessings in this country that I am so very thankful for. 

America, America, God shed His grace on thee...