America

We will be hosting friends for the 4th of July.  Traditional fare: hamburgers, chili dogs, coleslaw, potato salad, baked beans, apple and peach pies.  Homemade Snickerdoodle cookies.  Ice cream!

As I reflect on America today, my gratitude is for the subtle signals which show this mighty Republic remains the greatest nation on earth.  Let me share a few signals and things which show America's distinct emotional pulse.

Quiet moments of reverence immediately before worship with those of my faith.

The sound which water makes as it comes out of the faucet; cool, clean, and ready to drink.

Rustling of mature trees which blocks out the sound of vehicles on the interstate two blocks from our neighborhood.

Shopping carts loaded with the bounty which our nation possesses - from ranches and farms, to trains and large trucks, to staging outside of stores and loading onto shelves - we do not suffer lack.

The sound of meat sizzling on a large grill several blocks from my home; the smiles of the cooks; and of course, the first whiff of a hot corn tortilla.  Because I grew up in Mexico we refer to street tacos as "Food of the Gods".

Morning doves, cardinals, blue jays and ordinary sparrows which remind us of God's care for creation and my nation's stewardship - best they can - for the ecosystems which sustain our distinct regions. (I like to remember that we are stewards. He is Master.)

Silence.  That vast silence which can engulf the plains of Texas on a hot summer night.  

There are no sounds of gunfire in the distance.  No sound of the trampling feet of terrified women and children fleeing the RSF in Sudan.  No helicopters overhead, as documented during the past,  firing down on women and children like they are wild beasts.  No sound of trenches being dug by Sudanese men fully aware of the fate that awaits them. I have seen the carnage; the takbir rings out, as ordinary tribesmen are slaughtered.  This is America. This - we do not allow, but eradicate.

There is the silence.  And then - the sounds of commerce. The music within our shopping malls. The sound of a Pepsi being splashed over ice and a straw being slipped through the plastic opening of the lid. That first gulp of a cold carbonated beverage. The sound of children laughing as they are placed on the horses of a musical carousel, or running about a play area of a local park.  The sounds of Starbucks with blenders whirring in the background and names shouted out when a beverage is prepared.   I always prefer to say my name is "John Jangle Jingle Heimer Schmidt" or "Anonymous".

Tearing open the packaging for the latest item from Amazon.  It is the sound of satisfaction. Rip.  Oh, my new earrings have arrived!

Running my hands across the spines of hardcover books at the library.  And the tactile experience of deciding if the paper stock used for my latest selection is below average, or a bit luxurious. Across the globe, complete populations who lack access to books. We have so many, we imagine it is o.k. to burn or ban a few.

The pungent whiff of a good cigar.  Because if you can afford such a thing, your belly is probably full from day to day.

The foam on a beer.   And the cherry atop a Banana split.  And the cry of the little boy who experiences his first trip to the barber shop - to be followed by a scoop of ice cream.

Paved streets.  Stop signs.  Traffic lights that work.  Sewage pipes that consume what we flush down the toilet from day to day. We do not give it a second thought.  Neither does the pipe care, but merely serves its lowly purpose.

Coffee!  This is my favorite signal. The sound of the pot and the smell of the latest brand. I am drinking coffee from Oaxaca - a gift from my brother. Coffee!  And a reliable electrical grid which remains trustworthy through the night and until I awaken to a new day.  Did I mention coffee? smile

The signals of what it means to be an American are available for capture to each one of you. And as we celebrate tomorrow, may each of us enjoy the food, camaraderie, the fireworks displays and whatever additional activities bring us joy.  Later - in that quiet cocoon of the night - please take a moment.  Thank God - for His many blessings on our nation and on our generations.