We take this break from our regularly scheduled programming to share a word about patriotism.
I’ve been learning a lot more about American history lately–focused on US history, but I’m trying to learn more Canadian history, too. I know sadly little about Canada, and it’s our next-door neighbor! One of the things I’ve really appreciated is coming to terms with the fact that I can recognize the wicked things my country has done, call them out, repent of them, and still love my country. Loving my country doesn’t mean loving everything we’ve done.
We’ve made a lot of mistakes. Many of those mistakes still have repercussions. That doesn’t mean I can’t still love my country. Loving my country doesn’t mean I have to ignore or attempt to erase my country’s mistakes.
What loving my country means is that I won’t give up on it and I will always do my part to make things better. I can also enjoy some of the fun traditions while letting go of hurtful or harmful ones.
So on this 4th of July weekend, I hope you will find a balance. That you can enjoy being patriotic and singing about the things the US tries to stand for (I admit, it has often failed!), but that you can avoid glossing over the wicked things the country has done and recognize the people who are hurting from long-standing wounds.
May the US turn its heart to God so that God can “crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.”
A. W. Downer 
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