What a blessing! To be able to wake up each morning knowing that your first breath is filled with freedom and opportunity, simply because you are fortunate enough to wake up in the United States of America; a small piece of geography that represents something so large and significant globally.
Imagine what God sees when He looks down from Heaven. He sees 20% of the worlds population living under a Communist government in China and and the oppressive government of Russia. People living with a boot on their neck unable to speak freely, gather, and exercise freedoms they do not have.
He sees the Kibera slums in Nairobi, Kenya. I have walked these streets in what is considered to be the #1 slum in the world. Estimates of at least 1.2 million people who live in abject poverty. Sewage that runs down the sides of the streets open to pedestrians walking through it.
He sees Cuba, North Korea, Cameroon, Chad , Egypt, Iran, and list goes on and on.
He sees that only 4.4% of the world’s population wakes up each day in the United States of America where they are free to pursue their hopes and dreams. While the USA is not the only free country in the world, and certainly not the oldest, its maintains the oldest constitution in the world. A constitution that brings hope to the world.
While it is easy to point at all of her flaws, one need only travel abroad to appreciate the “goodness” of this great land. I find it ironic that many of the internal critics of this country have never been anywhere else besides here. Many of the outlandish statements they make about wanting socialism are made from the safety and security of a country that allows them to stand up, speak freely, and march in the streets. This is the exact thing they would be prohibited from doing if they actually ended up with the country they claim to want.
Today we celebrate our liberty. Despite our challenges and our flaws this nation IS the symbol of freedom around the world. Our patriotic duty is to protect her legacy and to be an instrument for growth and improvement each and every day. I thank God every day that I live in the United States of America.
God bless all of the men and women that have sacrificed their time, talents, fortunes, and lives to create a nation that has been uniquely placed, at this particular time in history, with a mandate to breathe hope into a world longing for what we have. Even with our imperfections and historical blemishes, we are the caretakers of a glorious, unique experience called the United States of America.
Happy 4th of July! Happy birthday America!
Always Lead,
Bo