Dear Reader:

Don’t we all have a tendency to take July 4th and it’s symbolism for granted as the years pass? We immediately think of old classroom history lessons like … the American Revolution and the Declaration of Independence… now pass the hot dogs please?

When we hear the word ” revolution” we think rebellion and fighting for our freedom. But the term also stands for circle -the time it takes a celestial body to make a complete round of its orbit.

The title picture comes from an old Time magazine that talked about how it’s always the Fourth of July in space… with beautiful cosmic fireworks that boggle the mind.

I like that idea better than a rebellion that causes much heartache and destruction in the process. Yet … by the complex world we live in struggle is inevitable. Just like in our own personal lives there comes a moment when we have to let go and put our faith in God to see us through difficult situations.

Kate Wolfe Jenson uses the metaphor of clouds to explain our need to stop trying to keep all the plates spinning all the time. At some point the spinning fails us.

When we watch the clouds from afar they appear frothy or frail-helplessly driven by the wind. Surprise! Cumulus clouds average over a million pounds-now who is calling who wispy. But the real strength of clouds is that they have the courage to turn over their strength and go where the winds take them … clouds know how to trust and let go!

Can you imagine how hard it was to make the decision to break from England and take on one of the greatest military powers with ragtag militia men. I doubt Washington got much sleep during this long struggle. He had to let go too and put the situation in God’s Hands. He knew he could not do it alone. God was the head commander.

So on this special day of gratitude for our country…save a special prayer for our leaders to know when to let go and let God in. It will be their greatest strength.

So until tomorrow … When we let go of our fears-only then does the present moment lift us up-we just have to breathe and know that which we seek to become… we already are!

” Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh