Today We Celebrate America

“It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried.”                                                                                                                                                               Winston Churchill

“You can always count on Americans to do the right thing- after they’ve tried everything else”    Winston Churchill

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.                                                                                                                                                                  I John 1:9

Yes, it is the 4^th of July, and who better to quote from than a former English Prime Minister! Okay, but he did have an American mother.

As you know, I like Winston Churchill, and yes, he was a deeply flawed individual. I challenge us to find any leader who has a past unblemished. All have words or deeds which he or she regrets or had some shame over.

This is true of countries too. We have a beautiful country, one born in ideals of freedom. Despite the criticisms and ranting by many throughout the world, America is still that place held up as an example of freedom, opportunity, and yes, justice.

I have clients who have regrets and failures (yes, of course, we all do), and I often talk with them about not being defined by our failures or sins. We own those deficits and ask forgiveness, then we use those failures to become who we are trying to be. Indeed, that is who we are- the person we aspire to be.

So, we are going through an intense look at American culture right now, and that can be a very difficult thing- and a good thing. In reflecting, we see some painful failures and injustices. A reasoned look at past failures is the way that we grow. The object is to not get stuck in the look at the failures. The goal is to learn the effective and right measures to remedy them.

In I John 1:9 we are told that:

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

So, that is the remedy for every sin, and that is the formula for recovery. We own our failures, ask forgiveness, learn from them, and aspire to the greatness that we are designed to have.

So, we say “Happy Birthday, America”, you’re still looking pretty good at 244 years old.

Prayer: Lord, we are grateful for the blessings we have in America. We turn to that motto and yearn for it to be true- In God we trust, Amen.