A WORD FOR TODAY, July 4, 2024
Peggy Hoppes
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Blessings. Peg
A WORD FOR TODAY, July 4, 2024
“Blessed is the nation whose God is Yahweh, the people whom he has chosen for his own inheritance. Yahweh looks from heaven. He sees all the sons of men. From the place of his habitation he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, he who fashions all of their hearts; and he considers all of their works. There is no king saved by the multitude of an army. A mighty man is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a vain thing for safety, neither does he deliver any by his great power.” Psalm 33:12-17, WEB
The fourth of July is Independence Day in the United States of America. It is the day we celebrate the work of our founding fathers, the brave men who signed a declaration establishing this land as a free nation. There will be gatherings all around America. Families will host barbeques and swimming parties; towns will throw block parties and carnivals. In the evening, citizens will gather in stadiums and at lakes to watch large firework presentations. It is an exciting day for everyone to share in the spirit of patriotism and community. It is very easy, when considering the great many blessings we have in the United States, to think that we are something special in the eyes of God and the world. On the Fourth of July it seems like there’s nothing better than being an American.
We also struggle, because we know that the United States is not perfect. We have had difficult times; we are a divided nation. We can’t seem to work together to make things right, mostly because we disagree about what is right. We argue about everything, there is too much hate. The upcoming election seems to be making things even worse. Many people are afraid of the future, frustrated about the government and the economy. There are too many issues, and everyone has an opinion. Our nation has been considered a great nation, a superpower, a nation with strength, courage and abundant blessings. Unfortunately, it is easy for us to take our blessedness for granted.
Despite our division and troubles, the United States is a beautiful place. I have had the pleasure of driving across the continental United States of America several times. I have driven every mile of I-80 from coast to coast, and a good portion of most of the other interstate highways. I’ve seen the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and the Gulf of Mexico. I’ve seen the Mississippi River and many others. I’ve stood on the shore of at least one of the great lakes and fished in my grandmother’s backyard pond. I have stood on the mountaintop in the Rockies, and marveled over the landscape at Mount St. Helen’s. I’ve seen the Redwood forests, magnificent waterfalls, and rainbows that seemed to stretch all the way across California.
I drove across Kansas at night, where a single front porch light can be seen for twenty miles. I have driven on many roads in Texas, which is so big it takes days to get from one end to the other. I’ve driven, or been stuck in, New York City, Los Angeles, and dozens of other big city traffic jams. I’ve enjoyed the beauty of tiny country roads across this nation and eaten in the cafes of small-town America. I’ve seen the blooms of spring, the incredible force of nature in summer thunderstorms, and the many creatures that live in the diverse ecosystems from coast to coast. I always gasp at the beauty of the forests of the Blue Ridge Highway, the red rocks and cacti of the desert regions, and the corn fields of the mid-west.
The American landscape is certainly inspiring, and many writers have put their love of this land into song, poetry, and prose. I understand the feeling when I’ve witnessed the beauty of God’s creation all over the country. Katherine Lee Bates was in Colorado Springs to teach a brief summer course and she was deeply inspired by many things during her trip, including the beauty at the top of Pike’s Peak. It was at the top of the mountain that a poem came to her, bringing together her memories of the alabaster buildings at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago and the wheat fields of Kansas.
The poem, of course, eventually became a favorite patriotic hymn of many Americans. “America the Beautiful” was set to music by Samuel A. Ward. The poem and tune came together and was first published in 1910, although it was first used in 1904. Sadly, Samuel Ward died in 1903, so he never knew that his inspired tune became such a beloved part of American culture and patriotism. The Kennedy administration even tried to give “America the Beautiful” legal status as a national hymn or even as the national anthem.
America is certainly beautiful. Of course, in many ways the issues dividing us also make us seem horrific, ugly, sad, and disgusting. But that’s the reality of life in this world. America is made up of so many beautiful places, but it is also made up of human beings, all of which are all too human. We are sinners in need of a Savior. Katherine Lee Bates understood this reality, and in the poem, she appealed to God for His healing grace upon our nation. Despite our failures, we also have a heart for good. We respond immediately to disasters with our bodies and resources. We fight for justice. We stand for truth. We pray for our neighbors. We, or at least a large number of us, believe that we are blessed by God to be a blessing not only to one another but to the world. There might be some bad, but there is a lot of good, and for that reason I know that America really is beautiful.
Independence Day is a good time for us to revive Katherine’s appeal to God for His healing grace for our nation. There is still so much good we can do for one another and for the world. God blesses the people who look to Him, who trust in His provision, protection, and salvation. Despite our troubles, we are founded on the promises of God for all people. Jesus Christ did not die on the cross to make any specific nation special in the eyes of God, but so that all men might be saved from sin and death in His name.
It is fun to celebrate the Fourth of July, to watch the fireworks and enjoy burgers from the grill. Millions of Americans will enjoy the summer sun at parks or the seashore, attending parades, picnics and other festivities. It is wonderful that we can rejoice in our many blessings, most particularly our freedom. Yet, let us never forget that we are blessed to be a blessing. God has not chosen us especially to be His special people; however, He has given us a great many gifts and responsibilities, calling us to share our gifts with the world. We will do well to take time this Fourth of July to thank God and glorify Him as we serve others, looking to Him who is the true source of hope and peace.
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