Reflections on Independence Day

This morning, I kicked off the Fourth of July not with fireworks or a grill, but with something quieter, more reflective. My local congregation hosted a small program where we read words from some of America’s founding fathers, sharing personal insights, raw and real, from people who saw this nation take its first breath.

We also heard about Christopher Columbus from his journal entries upon arriving in the Americas and upon his return to Spain, reporting his findings to Queen Isabella. Whatever your views on him, his writings revealed something powerful: a deep awareness of divine guidance in his voyage and the events that followed. He believed he was part of something bigger than himself. That sense of purpose, of being led by something higher, seemed to echo through the voices of the founders too.

It made me stop and really think about this country — not as a flawless story, but as an extraordinary one.

Clearly, our history isn’t perfect. Far from it. But perfection wasn’t the point of America’s founding. The point was possibility. Freedom. The radical idea that people could govern themselves, speak their minds, and worship according to their conscience. These aren’t small things. They’re seismic. And they’re still under pressure around the world.

In a time when freedom of speech and freedom of religion are eroding across much of the West, I believe America must hold the line. We need to be what we’ve always aimed to be: a light on the hill. Not perfect, but principled. Not flawless, but faithful to the ideals that built us.

I’m proud to be an American. I say that without irony and without apology. I believe in this country — not because it’s immune to mistakes, but because it keeps striving for more. And I believe in the people who make it up. I see neighbors who help each other. I see communities trying, struggling, and learning to understand one another better.

That’s what gives me hope. Not just patriotic pride, but potential. We’ve still got plenty of work to do. But today reminded me that we’ve got the spirit to do it.

So here’s to America. Not just the country we are, but the country we’re still becoming. To all my friends and readers — keep building, keep believing, and keep looking for ways to serve your community.

Happy Independence Day.