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Fresh Start Devotionals


June 21


Patriotism

My mom made Susan a beautiful vest that displays several patriotic symbols. Susan asked me “do you think I can wear this anytime, or only in July.” I told her she should be proud to display patriotic symbols anytime. She wore it this morning as she left for work. What if Patriotism were limited to July 4th. Wouldn’t that be ridiculous?

I once served in a Church whose leadership looked more like a delegation of the United Nations than a Baptist committee. We had one Japanese American, a couple of Canadians, a couple of Californians and a British national. We were planning a picnic for the early part of July. I was feeling a bit precocious, so I asked the Brit if they had 4th of July in England. She gave me one of those what-are-you-talking-about-glances. You know, the way the school librarian looks at you when she tilts her head and looks over her reading glasses. “Of course we don’t have the 4th of July,” she said. “What do you do, skip from the 3rd to the 5th?” O.K., I know—that was bad!

A few years ago, the United States Supreme Court said it was O.K. for people to burn the flag. I don’t have any idea what they were thinking. The same year I got a note from the fire marshal saying that it was against the law for us to use candles for a Christmas Eve service because it was a fire hazard. I’m a bit confused. The county fire marshal said it isn’t safe to burn candles, but the Supreme Court said we could burn a flag. I guess burning flags are not as dangerous as burning candles.

Patriotism is important to me, and it is a year round event. Limiting it to a specific holiday is about as silly as limiting our Christianity to Easter and Christmas or Sunday. Don’t you think it is about time Christians come out of the closet and wear their faith with pride? Closets aren’t in vogue these days. If Ellen came out, why can’t we? Lets live our faith twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.


Jim L. Wilson, Fresh Start Devotionals (Fresno, CA: Willow City Press, 2009).

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