Let me start with my confession. July 4th is not fun for me. Loud noises unnerve and frighten me. (I remember comforting my dogs through the years. We shared the same dread, and we would hunker down in the corner. Every July 4th, they were on edge. And it took them some time to recover.)
I am, however, a big fan of celebrations, and anniversaries. But yes, I do prefer the ones that allow for moments of calm (no surprise that I am a fan of monastic life). I applaud anniversaries that encourage moments of reflection and contemplation.
And all the better, with a good glass of red wine.
Tomorrow’s celebration here in the U.S. is a big one. 250 years.
And we must not avoid or ignore the mood of our country now. That would be unwise. While sixty-five percent of U.S. adults say they are still proud to be American, eighty-three percent of U.S. adults feel America has strayed from the ideals the country was founded on two-and-a-half centuries ago. It doesn’t help to pretend otherwise.
But yes. There are many more chapters yet to come. And here’s the deal: we—every single one of us—can plant those seeds, of hope. Seeds of inclusion and repair and restoration and sanctuary.
It’s been the theme—the grounding principle—of my ministry. How, and in what ways, can we—as church, community, country—create places of sanctuary and welcome and healing and renewal?
I’m not preaching on Sunday, but if I were, my theme would be, “All are welcome here.”
Instead of a hymn, I’d start with Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ singing Room on the Porch.
“Come on up, there's room on the porch
For everyone
Share your feelings, share your heart
Just be you, it's who you are
You'll be accepted, you're so precious
To me
The problem with the world these days
Is people hide what they should say
But not today, speak your mind
And set yourself free
And even if you go away
The more you come the more you stay
'Cause round here you'll only be
A stranger for one day”
Now that, is worth celebrating wholeheartedly.
Fifty years ago, on the occasion of our bicentennial, President Gerald Ford made it a point to travel on July 5th to Thomas Jefferson’s home in Monticello to speak at a naturalization ceremony. His remarks are worth remembering:
“I am very proud to welcome all of you as fellow citizens of the United States of America. I invite you to join fully in the American adventure and to share our common goal and our common glory… You have given us a birthday present beyond price—yourselves, your faith, your loyalty, and your love. We thank you with full and friendly hearts.
The patriots of 1776… wanted to build in this beautiful land a home for equal freedom and opportunity, a haven of safety and happiness, not for themselves alone, but for all who would come to us through centuries. How well they built is told by millions upon millions who came and are still coming.
Immigrants came from almost everywhere, singly and in waves… Such transfusions of traditions and cultures, as well as of blood, have made America unique among nations and Americans a new kind of people… We offered citizenship to all, and we have been richly rewarded.”
Ford celebrated America as a land of immigrants. He didn’t merely respond to nativist attacks. He wasn’t defensive. He made the case for immigration. He argued that we were “richly rewarded” for being a nation of immigrants. And so, addressing the new American citizens, Ford said: “You came as strangers among us and you leave here as citizens, equal in fundamental rights, equal before the law, with an equal share in the promise of the future… We have gained far, far more than we have given to the millions who made America their second homeland.” (Thank you, William Kristol)
Yes… “Come on up, there's room on the porch
For everyone”
Thirteen years later, on January 19, 1989, Ronald Reagan, gave his last public address as president. In it, he discussed what he saw as “one of the most important sources of America’s greatness”:
“We lead the world because, unique among nations, we draw our people—our strength—from every country and every corner of the world. And by doing so we continuously renew and enrich our nation. While other countries cling to the stale past, here in America we breathe life into dreams. We create the future, and the world follows us into tomorrow. Thanks to each wave of new arrivals to this land of opportunity, we’re a nation forever young, forever bursting with energy and new ideas, and always on the cutting edge, always leading the world to the next frontier. This quality is vital to our future as a nation. If we ever closed the door to new Americans, our leadership in the world would soon be lost.
It is bold men and women, yearning for freedom and opportunity, who leave their homelands and come to a new country to start their lives over. They believe in the American dream. And over and over, they make it come true for themselves, for their children, and for others. They give more than they receive… But their greatest contribution is more than economic, because they understand in a special way how glorious it is to be an American.”
And this from The Chicago Tribune this week. “But those of us who were around for America’s 200th likely don’t recall much about Gerald Ford’s address. We may well remember the grand sight of the tall ships in New York Harbor. But, mostly, we’ll recall the celebrations in our hometowns, be those cities, suburbs or small towns, and how our family, friends and neighbors came together as fellow Americans simply to have a good time. To have fun. To celebrate all that is good about our country.
The nonstop attention-seeking of our current president threatens to intrude on the day. Don’t let it happen.
Fly your American flag and be proud to do so. Enjoy the day with the people you love. Be hospitable to the people who think differently from you.
Eat hot dogs and burgers. Watch fireworks. Be grateful for the opportunities America affords to you and yours.
On the coming Fourth, while we surely will contemplate the important questions Ford asked, we mostly will enjoy the day along with those around us and will tune out unnecessary noise — 250 years after more than 50 brave signatories put their lives and fortunes at great risk in the cause of converting an idea into a nation, we will celebrate America, knowing more great chapters are to come.”
Savor your weekend my friends. Let’s have hot dogs, and listen to Ray Charles sing, America the Beautiful. Sabbath Moments
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