The one advantage of the intermittent downpours we had yesterday was that it kept the neighborhood kids from being able to shoot off their fireworks, usually just noise without the beauty and magnificence of real fireworks. I was so grateful I did the yard work early in the morning before the sky opened up.
Gardening yields many surprises. Not only do plants appear where you least expect them, but looking about we can find other surprises. Over the last few days it seemed there were more birds, and seeing broken eggshells under the trees, I realized the sounds were coming from the hatchlings.
How does one observe the Fourth? It is one of those days that makes you reflect on where we have been as a Nation and makes us ask how we will go forward in the future. As fledglings leave their nests to soar in the sky, we, too, must have dreams and soar into an unknown future.
Prayer for the Day
You come to us, O Lord, where we are, not where we would like to be:
May we be open to your grace and to your power;
You find us, O God, in the bustle of our work and our daily lives;
May we respond to your call and listen to your word.
You embrace us even when we resist you, holding us when we despair,
Healing us so we are able to love and nurture others.
In the name of the One who is your grace and your love,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
Life can only be understood backwards but it must be lived forwards.
- Soren Kierkegaard, Danish philosopher (1813-1855)
The world needs dreamers and the world needs doers. But above all, the world needs dreamers who do.
- Sarah Ban Breathnach, American writer
I know, O Lord, that your judgments are right,
And that in faithfulness you have humbled me.
Let your steadfast love become my comfort