Today is the day we used to celebrate as he birthday of George Washington, the man who was the first President of the newly formed United States of America. There were many stories written about him, many of which were created to instill a sense of respect and admiration for the man.
Washington had a complicated relationship with slavery. He owned at least 577 slaves but believed that slavery at some point had to end. He signed laws that protected as well as curtailed slavery. He willed 132 salves to his wife Mary but that they should be freed on her death. She freed them beforehand.
He also had a complicated relationship with Native Americans, trying to assimilate them into Anglo-American culture but fighting their resistance to expansion of settlements. Like the rest of us, he struggled within the confines of his age, breaking loose from them from time to time. Recognizing greatness does not mean we do not consider flaws, but the question for us then becomes how will others judge us as creatures of our age.
Prayer for the Day
Looking backward at what has been, God of the future,
We can miss your vital presence in our lives today;
Struggling with your vision of what we can become,
We deny your grace by our neglect of others.
Help us to walk into the future with hope,
Trusting in the promise of your reign.
In the name of the One who always trusted in you,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
For happily the Government of the United s=States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that those who live under its protection should demean themselves as good.
- George Washington to the Hebrew Congregation of Newport, Rhode Island, 1790
Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism.
- George Washington (1732-1799)
Come, o children, listen t me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
Which of you desires life, and covets many days to enjoy good?
Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.
Depart from evil and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
Psalm 34: 11-14