Vicarious Blessings

July 4, 2018

It is an almost unimaginable privilege. The thermometer has just about gone through the roof today, with temperatures in the 90s and humidity almost off the charts. It gets hotter in other parts of the country, but with the combination of heat and humidity here, the air is thick and heavy. Those with respiratory issues truly suffer. About an hour ago, our daughter came to check up on us. Apparently she remembered those segments on TV that warn of the dangers of the heat for the elderly. Funny woman, she is!

But think about it. Around here, the only thing on people’s minds seems to be the temperature. Admittedly, it’s a bit uncomfortable, but if that’s the worst thing I have in my life, I am a pretty fortunate human being. We Americans celebrate this day with parties, fireworks, and picnics. Sadly, some of those gatherings will turn sour, fueled by alcohol or drugs. But for most of us, we enjoy this day because what some are calling privileged white slave owners had the foresight and determination to declare independence from an oppressive and unrepresentative government, and “with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence...mutually pledge[d] to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” 

Some indeed forfeited their lives, most lost their fortunes, but they maintained their honor. Their willingness to confront the greatest military power of the day, and their determination later to form a more perfect union has given us a nation like no other, imperfect indeed, but built upon the ideal of personal freedom. I am, and we are, recipients of their wisdom and perseverance in the face of grave hardship. What they did literally changed our lives in ways most people cannot comprehend. Were we to believe the elitists, America has forfeited its role in the world, but the steady stream of those who want to come here, legally or illegally belies their pessimism. With all our problems, however short of our ideals we fall, oppressed people still choose to come here.

Years before, another declaration was made that also impacted me in life-changing ways. By the sacrifice of Christ we were declared righteous by God in a great transaction known theologically as justification by faith. Some Christians often imagine something is lacking in their faith because they aren’t moved emotionally by the preaching or singing that seems to be affecting everyone around them. But neither do I feel any different or have a personal connection to any of the founding Fathers, but my life is surely different from someone living in France or Pakistan or China due to that declaration made on July 4, 1776. In the same way, my life is different not because I feel religiously woozy or ecstatic, but because through the work of Christ on the Cross, God declared me and all others who believe, to be in a right relationship with him. As I listen to the fireworks and see their displays in the sky, I am grateful for my earthly country and for my heavenly home, both of which were given me through the courageous actions of others.