I’ve been struggling with what to write to commemorate the upcoming celebration of our nation’s 250th birthday. There is so much strife and divisiveness, it has been hard to focus on the positive aspects of patriotism. Then I started reading about the international travelers who have arrived in the States to support their country’s soccer (fütball) teams. It’s reported that, overwhelmingly, these visitors have glowing things to say about our country—from our majestic landscapes to free drink refills to the massive amount of offerings at Walmart. What touches my heart the most, though, is how thoroughly friendly these travelers are finding Americans to be. They have read about our current state of political chaos and haven’t seen that in their interactions with real, live, everyday citizens. We are experienced as friendly, kind, and helpful.
I began to reflect on what it is about this county, my country, that I appreciate. If you’ve been reading my work for any length of time, you know how much I value the treasures found in our outdoor spaces. I have traveled to many extraordinary places around the world, but nothing compares to the variety of vistas the US has to offer. From beaches to mountains, plains, deserts, and forests—we have it all. And I sometimes forget how blessed I am to have the opportunity to freely travel to any of these landscapes.
I also tend to take for granted some of the freedoms enshrined in our constitution. I can worship, or not, any way I choose. I can gather and speak and vote and write and make a living in any way I choose. I can love anyone I choose without fear of reprisal from my government. There are some that say these freedoms are currently under threat. I choose to believe that our constitution will prevail, and that these threats will fall away. I intend to fight for them if needed, too.
In general, we don’t fear our neighbors. In large part, we are a kind people. Yes, of course there are exceptions out there, and they seem to get the most press because bad news sells. But by and large, we care about our communities and come together for the common good when needed. We see this every time there is a natural disaster. I’ve experienced neighbors coming together to clean up after a weather event, and I bet you have, too. I treasure my community, and I suspect each of us does.
People across the globe are kind, too. This is certainly not the purview of America alone. In my international travels, I have found nothing but genuine helpfulness and kindness.
If soccer can bring the world together, let’s celebrate that. I can also celebrate our common humanity across the globe at the same time that I celebrate the uniqueness of the USA.
The Finnish composer Jean Sibelius created a patriotic symphonic poem in 1900, a portion of which became a stand-alone tune known at Finlandia. The tune has been set to new words in many languages. You are probably most familiar with the hymn Be Still My Soul. I was introduced to the hymn, This Is My Song, words by Lloyd Stone, found in my denomination’s hymnal when I was in elementary school. Here is the first verse:
This is my song, O God of all the nations,
A song of peace for lands afar and mine.
This is my home, the country where my heart is,
Here are my hopes, my dreams, my holy shrine.
But other hearts in other lands are beating,
With hopes and dreams as true and high as mine.
So on this momentous anniversary of the founding of the United States of America, I will celebrate and express my gratefulness to “the country where my heart is.” I will also embrace the notion that all nations hold peoples “with hopes and dreams as true and high as mine.”