This entry is not necessarily "spiritual" -- well at this point anyway. I actually never know what I am going to write until I type it, so here goes . . . July 4th has come and gone this year. It was on a Wednesday, so there was not really any extended weekends or anything, which is a little bit of a bummer. Next Year it will be on a Thursday, so it will be another one of those middle of the week holidays again. Anyway -- one thing I used to really look forward to as a kid was FIREWORKS! Our family would always go and see them, and usually in different locations each year. I can remember seeing them from a boat at Lake Lanier, at Disney World, at Six Flags over Georgia, in the metroplis of Downtown Stockbridge, GA and one and on my list could go. This year, I didn't go see them at all. I didn't even watch them with the Boston Pops on television.

Fireworks events are usually a spectacular display of color and light that is used as a celebration. Fireworks and black powder were used to celebrat important events long before the American Revolutionary War. The very first celebration of Independence Day was in 1777, six years before Americans knew whether the new nation would survive the war; fireworks were a part of those festivities. In 1789, George Washington's inauguration was also accompanied by a fireworks display. As I think about Independence Day, I am often reminded of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in which 56 men signed a contract that defined the reasons for separation from Great Britain. The final paragraph of the Declarations, says, "And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."

As I read that statement, I am reminded of those who gave their life so that I could have the freedom to worship God as I am led of the Spirit. So, as I write this -- I think maybe I should have gone to see the fireworks celebration in town because we really do have something to celebrate. Next year, I will do it for sure! How did you spend your Freedom Day?