Yesterday we celebrated Independence Day for the 246th time with parades, barbecues, fireworks, and everything red, white and blue. Amid the festivities, did we take time to ponder the promise of America, both in 1776 and today? A young, struggling nation builds itself upon noble ideas such as freedom, principle, duty, and sacrifice. An advanced, developed nation can easily lose sight of what made it great as it yields inevitably to wealth, luxury, and privilege.
A lot has happened in 246 years. Those who founded America were motivated by the prospect of a new, sovereign state built upon an inspired Constitution, and a secure Bill of Rights. The American Dream promised immunity from tyranny, discrimination, and persecution. It told of unbounded opportunity, and a life of due reward for due labor. Immigrants from many countries clamored for the privilege of laying their hopes and dreams at the feet of Lady Liberty. There were no special interest demands or talks of entitlement in those hungry days.
This past Sunday in our church service, we sang the National Anthem. I have always loved these words in the 3rd verse: “O thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand, between their loved homes, and the war’s desolation. Blest with victory and peace may the heaven-rescued land, praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation…” I thought of the many who stood and fell for our freedom, never to return to their loved homes, and wondered what would they think of our stewardship of their sacrifice?
Despite of our current troubles, and they are many, they are not as bountiful as our blessings. This we must never lose sight of. If America is a heaven-rescued land, whose power hath made and preserved us, then we need not give in to despair. Our forefathers held fast to their faith in America’s promise even though in their day, they knew only death, poverty, and the war’s desolation.
There are some Goliaths that man alone cannot defeat. Consider that the rag-tag Continental Army who launched the revolution was outnumbered by more than 2 to 1, and had significantly fewer, and grossly inferior weapons. They were also very inexperienced compared to the trained soldiers of their enemy. The British had every advantage and yet the nearly-depleted Continental Army prevailed in the end.
To make things even more challenging, less than 45% of the colonists initially supported the revolution, and many joined forces with the British, pitting brother against brother and neighbor against neighbor.
To press forward in such grim circumstances was the Continental Army’s Goliath. As they rose to meet it, the Lord met them. Our conflicts today are fought on a different battlefield, and with different weapons, but the stakes are just as high, and the effort required is the same. Just as God met our forefathers in their extremity, He will meet us in ours. What can we do to help?
Have you brandished your bayonet by voting regularly? Have you put your cannon of support behind good men and women who run for office? Is your musket of prayer discharged faithfully and frequently on behalf of those who lead us?
Amid all that we feel powerless to influence or resolve, we can hold firm to our faith in God, and in his promise of protection and peace. The faith and prayers of those who believe will never fall on deaf ears. By giving in to despair, we aid only our enemies, not our allies. Despair never prompts positive action, only faith and hope do. We are not alone, and the more we join our voices together, the stronger we become as our collective power to call on the power of heaven expands.
We can also increase in goodness, and in devotion to God and our fellow-man. We can become more charitable, and more willing to help those in need. We can be more forgiving, and more tolerant. Many today are looking to others for strength and inspiration. Will they look to you? Will they look to me? Are we spreading faith and hope or fear and despair? Choose to sound an optimistic trumpet instead of an annoying kazoo.
Although there are some in today’s America who have lost hope, there are many more who have not. Just as our founding fathers looked forward with faith in the midst of the unknown, so can we by holding fast to our precepts with as much faith, hope, and determination as we can muster. Together we can restore the American Dream.
Marc K. Ensign
Paradise