Sounds of Freedom
On the 4th of July we were amazed at the amount of fireworks that were displayed throughout our city given that the usual large sponsored displays were cancelled because of Covid 19.
We sat on the front porch and watched for several hours at all the bright explosions displayed across the valley and the reservoir. The sounds echoed and added to the excitement and thrill of what we were watching.
Often I would think of the words in the Star Spangle Banner.
- the rockets red glare
- the bombs bursting in air
- gave proof through the night that our flag was still there
While thinking of these words I would close my eyes and try to imagine how different those sounds were for the actual soldiers that were experiencing live bombs and explosions while fighting for our nation’s freedom.
The sound of the fireworks were amplified when my eyes were closed and it sent chills down my spine thinking of the courage and bravery it would have required to persevere in those conditions.
What now were sounds of people celebrating their freedom were once the sounds of war. Actual bombs bursting in the air lighting up the sky with the fire they contained.
At one point my neighbor crossed the street while watching the flag waving from our porch. In looking at the flag she commented which way the wind was blowing and would adjust the firework accordingly.
How many times did those soldiers use the brightness of the explosions to search for the flag waving; encouraging them and giving them confidence that it was still there; empowering their resolve and pointing them in the direction they should go.
This season our nation has been going through has given us a small taste of what it would be like to loose our freedom. It also have given us an opportunity to have a new appreciation of the freedom we enjoy as Americans.
I want to thank the many soldiers that spent countless nights listening to the sounds that accompanied the fight for our nation’s freedom. Thank you for your courage and bravery to fight through the obstacles and win the freedom that we enjoy and celebrate.
My Prayer
Father, thank you for the many freedoms that we enjoy. Thank you for the selfless people that endured unimaginable hardship to secure that freedom. I pray for our nation Lord. I pray that we will repent so we can be forgiven for the many times that we have rejected You. For our choices to live according to our own desires. Help us to return to You Lord. Please guide, protect and encourage the leaders of this nation. Help us to again become one nation under God. Just as You intended. In Jesus’ name, amen.