We are a nation still evolving, still discovering who we are and who we are meant to be, and because of the freedoms we have declared for ourselves, our differences sometimes seem more visible and stronger than our similarities. Sometimes that is painful, and sometimes we forget we are a country that holds freedom as its utmost value.
I like what the historian Barbara Tuchman said in an essay "On Our Birthday--America as Idea,"
The United States is a nation consciously conceived,
not one that evolved slowly out of an ancient past. It
was a planned idea of democracy, of liberty, of conscience,
and pursuit of happiness. It was the promise of equality
of opportunity and individual freedom within a just social
order, as opposed to the restrictions and repressions of
the Old World.
No, we haven't lived up to our ideals, but our ongoing assumption is that we will continue to try. We will continue to bump against each other's version of the truth, and we will continue to have major growing pains, but that is almost the point. We know we are allowed to do that. We must do that.
I just started reading a little book by Kent Nerburn called Calm Surrender, Walking the Path of Forgiveness. I didn't expect this book to make me think about life as an American, but I think as a nation we are not so good at forgiving ourselves for not living up to our own expectations. This is a huge simplification, I know, but we seem quite good at forgiving others. Think about the rebuilding of Germany, for example, after WWII.
The first chapter in this book is called "More than I Had Hoped, Less Than I Had Dreamed," and while he is talking about our individual strengths and weaknesses, I think there is relevance for our lives as citizens, as these United States.
We will never be as good or worthy as we wish to be.
We will be human --- too human --- and we will fall short
of our hopes for ourselves over and over again. If we can
forgive ourselves for our failures --- not seven times, but
seventy times seven --- we can forgive others for their
failures. We know that we are all humans, struggling
by the lights we have toward our vision of good…Though
I am not what I thought I should be, I am more than I
might ever had hoped. As I survey the landscape of my
life, I am overcome with a sense of wonder.
pp 36-37
Yes, I am overcome with a sense of wonder--and gratitude that we even have an Independence Day. On this precious holiday, I pray we each rejoice in not only what we have and who we are, but more in what we have yet to become.
A Bonus
What would the 4th of July be without good food. Here's my version of strawberry shortcake, based on my Grandma Hansen's recipe. (I added the herbs or "green things," as my kids call them.
Shortcake, with emphasis on CAKE
2 cups flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 butter
1/2 cup sugar
About 3/4 cup milk
Minced fresh herbs such as mint or lemon balm or lavender
1 well-beaten egg
Heat milk to a simmer. Remove from heat and stir in minced herbs. Cover and steep about 10 minutes. Uncover and let cool. When cool, add well-beaten egg. Add more milk to make 1 cup if needed.
Mix together dry ingredients and add liquid ingredients to the dry.
Grease a 9x9 or 9x13 pan and bake at 450 degrees for 10-15 minutes.
Serve with fresh berries and whipped cream.
An Invitation
What relevance does the phrase "More Than I Had Hoped, Less Than I Had Dreamed" have for you personally and as a citizen? I would love to know.
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