As somewhat of a pleasant surprise, I ended up watching a great Independence Day parade as part of their Salute to America celebration in Jefferson City, Missouri. This weekend, American citizens celebrate the 244th Birthday of the United States. As I watched the parade at the Missouri Capital, I made a number of observations while I stood on the parade route in a small-town Missouri community. This special day started a weekend of gratitude for this town and in reality stretches across the entire country.
They Celebrated the Best America Has to Offer
As I watched the parade, I noticed what was highlighted in it. Many of the people and groups which participated remind us of the blessings and benefits of living in the United States. Let me identify just a few…
- Religious Freedom. Multiple churches participated in the parade. Several of them passed out literature along with candy. A few sang songs as they rode on the float. Others invited people to their church. There were several different denominations represented in the parade. As I watched this, I rejoiced in the religious freedom we enjoy as a country.
- Hard Work. Various groups represented their own vocation of choice. Particularly apparent were all the references to farmers. This group, maybe like none other, represents the backbone of hard work. Since Genesis 3, farmers work against the curse of sin in the field. They fight for everything they get out of the ground or with a particular livestock. I loved to see young men participating alongside some very aged men as they drove tractors and celebrated farming.
- Economic Freedom. Businesses of every sort demonstrated their appreciation for America. No doubt they used the parade as an opportunity to show their support for their community while at the same time advertising for their own business. But, why not? As the various groups drove and walked by, I was struck by all the ways in America that people can start businesses, be employed by small businesses, corporations, and government, and then the freedom to spend the fruit of those jobs in any way a person chooses.
- Political Diversity. Maybe because we were in the Capital, this parade seemed to have more political entries than most parades. I would expect it during an election year; however, this is not. Republicans, Democrats, specific individuals, and various other groups employed floats and other means to get their political message out to the masses. They passed out candy, trinkets, shirts, and stickers. The Democrat float passed two entries before the Republican float. Some parade watchers cheered for one; some around me for the other. Diversity.
- Racial Diversity. I noticed both in the parade itself and in those who watched it lots of racial diversity. America is and always has been a melting pot of individuals from all kinds of backgrounds and cultures. Floats demonstrated diversity as did various groups. Without knowing anyone around me, it provided me a great opportunity to watch people. As well, while the parade continued, the crowd built in around me. While it did, the diversity became very apparent. Everyone seemed to enjoy each other, the celebration, and the parade.
- Respect and Support for Those Who Sacrifice for Others. The parade highlighted veterans, law enforcement personnel, and emergency workers. People shouted out “Thank You” to those on floats and cheered for Cole County fire, ambulance, and police participants. I experienced people thanking the police officers working the parade route. Veterans were cheered. The opportunity to enjoy a parade comes at great cost to those who valiantly served in various conflicts and wars to provide it for us. For them, we are incredibly grateful.
Here’s the point: God did bless Americans with the United States of America. Is America perfect? Absolutely not. However, we fail ourselves, our neighbors, and God if we for one second miss the opportunity to thank God for what He has given us.
Again, perfect? No. It reflects the citizens and the citizens’ government. We will not enjoy a perfect kingdom until the future Kingdom of God. Until then, no earthly government can measure up to God’s future government or anything close to perfection.
Yet, we must recognize the great things we do enjoy. The fact that government, as Abraham Lincoln said, is of the people, by the people, and for the people should rejoice our hearts. Not simply as Americans though! We ought to rejoice in it as part of God’s gift to all those who call it home, enjoy being part of those people, and can use their voices (our voices) to make a difference even going forward.
What About America Going Forward?
Who knows what the future holds? The country seems more divided than ever. What divides us seems to be highlighted more than what unites us. Yet, what unites us provides the basis for working on those issues that need to be addressed that sometimes divide us. Many of the great blessings we enjoy that we celebrate above also create opportunities for sin and struggle when used in ways that promote disunity, class warfare, and oppression.
The political class and many other power brokers will either use their voices and power to help or hurt others. Looking back into our history and you observe those who have done both. Look to Washington D.C. today and especially in larger cities and you continue to see the same. Some help. Many help themselves at the expense of others.
What do we do then? We use our individual voices, individual effort, and individual means alongside those in our friend groups who want to join us where they can to make a difference in our communities, neighborhoods, and schools. We sacrificially give of ourselves to help those who may need it around us. We hurt with those who hurt, laugh with those who laugh, and pitch in to help where we can. When possible, we make our voices known politically as individual citizens. We recognize although our local, state, and national governments fail us and are not perfect, this nation is the freest nation and missionary force the world has ever known. What we have today, God gave us. Therefore, we need to be responsible for it – careful with our praise and our criticism. America is not the church, nor the Kingdom of God, nor our Savior.
A Weekend of Gratitude
Regardless of what you do or where you are, I hope that this is a weekend full of gratitude for you. If you work, praise God for the freedom of working hard, earning money, and being able to spend those as you choose. When you go to church, recognize that religious freedom in the United States of America is nothing less than God’s kindness. If you engage a law enforcement officer, fire fighter, or emergency response personnel, be grateful for their sacrifice and willingness to serve. For those who need those services in hospitals, nursing homes, rehab, or by ambulance service, be grateful for what God supplies through them. If you get to shoot fireworks, enjoy a picnic, cook out with friends, spend time with family, or whatever other way you find to celebrate America’s birthday, please do it with great gratitude for what God has provided us in this big and imperfect country in which we live.
May God bless America.
Special Edition ~ July 4th ~ Hope for America
Pictures from the Parade…
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