The Presidential debate took place during the few days I was working on my Sunday lesson for the Fourth of July holiday. Despite disappointment and ageism at work, the choice is quite simple: authoritarianism or democracy, continuing loss of rights or freedom. Sometimes, we must move beyond all outer appearances and distractions and remember the foundation that our country is built upon.
Freedom from oppression is what inspired the birth of the United States of America. Many people fought and died for that freedom. And our most precious documents, the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution, involved fighting and disagreement. And yet, those people involved reached an accord. The Declaration had 86 changes before that occurred. The Constitution required the agreement of nine states.
We can forget about which candidate appears older and ask ourselves, “Which candidate will help to protect our freedom?” That is a question worth asking; and “Which candidate will honor truth and justice?”
It is important to let go of stress and worry. We may not be able to avoid different viewpoints all around us, but we can let them pass through, and stand firm in a vision of freedom.
I hope you enjoy your Fourth of July this year. We can all pause and consider how important democracy is.
Love and blessings,
Rev. Kathy