Red, White and Blue

This (lovely, long) weekend our nation celebrated! There were picnics in the parks, fireworks in the skies, parades on the streets and red, white and blue adorned Americans everywhere.

We are Americans. We are many, we are diverse, we come from various ethnic backgrounds, family trees, religous affiliations and philisophical perpespctives.

America has always been known as the "melting pot" where many peoples come together, melting into one. We read and see often the latin motto "E pluribus unum" (out of many, one). It is on the Great Seal of our nation and has been a traditional motto for years. It is a beautiful motto, one that reflects tolerance for differences, while coming together in a unified manner for the good of the whole.

I found it interesting, as I researched a bit, that this motto was never made the official motto of our land, but rather, adopted in 1956, the motto "In God we trust". Oh, how I love that! How it should encourage us during these challenging times!

For our national soup is getting lumpier, the melting giving way to a more chunky brand. It seems that a variety of distinct, and often unsavory flavors in a given serving are becoming more noticable as the desired consistency and blend of our founding fathers is becoming less detectable.

There are many of our past traits of hard work, fortitude, national pride, patriotism, cooperation and especiallly an over-arching faith in God and Christianity, which seem to be getting lost in this more modern national recipe. The flavor of who we are may be getting diluted as polarity becomes more common-place. The spices of entitlement and "me-ism" creating a distinct and unpleasant aroma.

Let's remember Who is stirring the pot! Who is the Master Chef? Who will untimately be naming the establishment and determining its fate?

Let's remember the "why" we are here, in America, in today's day and time.

America has been blessed. America has been flawed. We still are. But we are a nation with vast beauty, a rich heritage and one that has known the goodness of God in so many ways!

May we do our part to help us continue to be "one nation under God". May we be a good nieghbor, a kind citizen, a helpful patriot. May we look for and seek the good of those around us. There is much good to be seen and experienced. People are good and caring, and the core values of kindness still prevail in so many times and places. It is easy sometimes to focus on those ingredients that sour the stew vs those that enhance the goodness. And then, most of all, may we be joy-filled and love inspired ambassadors for the cause of Christ! For there-in is our hope and the hope for all!

Not in this blessed country (which we love), but in the one to come! We are pilgrims and sojourners en route to our "promised land". May we be intentional to invite and bring others along the way!

May we be REaD as those that reflect the love of Christ!

May we be BLUE about the heartache of sin and despair around us.

And may we be WHITE, pure and free, because of the blood of Christ, shed for us on the cross!

For there in lies true freedom! Freedom in Christ, available for all, no matter the country from which we hail. Thank you Jesus for the blessings you have bestowed on our nation. May we pray, be grateful and do our part to maintain its place in the world's cookbook, as the recipe to be praised and copied. But when it is all said and done, may we remember the citizenry for which we aspire. Thank you Jesus!

May God bless America. And the red, white and blue!!