Happy Birthday to us!!
Happy Birthday to us!!
Happy Birthday dear America!
Happy Birthday to us!!!!
How about that…250 years old!!!! How many of you remember the Bicentennial…the 200th birthday in 1976. I was 16 years old. I remember the American Freedom Train that crisscrossed the nation with displays relating to our nation’s founding and early years. I believe White Lake had a parade, a community picnic, baseball games, and other activities. There were lots of souvenirs for sale and lots of different ways to celebrate the occasion. Of course, there were fireworks!!! If I remember right, we even got a few extra fireworks for our “farm” display.
But here we are at the 250th Anniversary or birthday of our nation…and we are still going. Just think of all that has happened in the past 250 years. It is amazing to simply stop and consider all that has taken place. 250 years ago, the main method of travel was probably horseback or a horse and carriage. And now, just in my lifetime we have been to the moon. Amazing!! Not only that, but our cell phones and cars now have more computing power than the first spacecraft that went to the moon. And speaking of technology, we can talk to someone on the other side of the world in a “real time” conversation. 250 years ago, it would have likely taken months to get a letter to the other side of the world.
Birthdays are a wonderful time to celebrate (bring on the cake and ice cream). Birthdays are also about presents, right??!! So, what is the present you are going to bring to the party? Seriously, what is the present you are going to bring to America? There are two presents I’d like to recommend. 1. The best version of you and 2. Your energy, time, and commitment. These two gifts are greatly needed!
I say the best version of you, because we have seen too many examples and heard too many stories of people displaying poor behavior, saying disrespectful things, and even treating fellow human beings in horrible ways. America, at its best, is way better than that! I also believe the gift of our time, energy, and commitment is important because it seems to me that our nation is struggling right now. We seem to be polarized and divided, more interested in fighting each other rather than building something better together. We need everyone to step up and step in, with the best version of ourselves, to get our nation back on track for the next 250 years.
In speaking of America’s form of government, Abraham Lincoln said, “Popular government is an experiment that requires maintenance.” Everything requires maintenance…especially something 250 years old. But it requires each of us to do our part to maintain this great nation. Yes, we’re not always going to agree. No, we’re not always going to like every decision or action our leaders make. But the reality is, our president or leaders do not truly define America. “We The People” define America. We are ALL connected as fellow human beings and fellow Americans calling this great nation home.
Today I would encourage each of us to take a few moments to make a list. No, not a list of complaints about this nation, its direction or its leaders (past or present). I’d invite you to make a list of the blessings, the opportunities, the good things, and the freedoms we enjoy because of where we live and the nation we are a part of. So, put on the best version of you, give of your time, energy, and commitment, and let’s move forward into the next 250 years, continuing to build our great nation. Oh, and one final gift you can bring to this party…pray! Pray for our president and all our national and local leaders. I’m sure we all think we could do a better job of leading, at some point or other, than those in office. But the truth is, very few of us really have any idea of what is required to lead a nation, a state, or even a local municipality. So, pray! Pray for our president and our leaders. Pray that peace, hope, love and prosperity will once again fill our land! After all, this really is the land of opportunity…but it is “we the people” who make it that way!
Happy Birthday to us!! Happy Birthday to us!! Happy Birthday dear America! Happy Birthday to us!!!!
AND MANY MORE!!!!!!
Pastor Keith