What Is An American?

One night, during the annual Fourth of July fireworks show, my emotions were stirred as always. As I was watching the show I contradicted myself. I love watching each individual firework and seeing the beauty each one has to offer. That's why it becomes frustrating when they start doing ten of them at a time because I can't possibly see every one of them. However, at the same time, my favorite part of the show is the finale. I love the way the whole sky lights up when they shoot all of those fireworks at once, all the noise, and the way the ground and my body shake from them . . . I love it all!

It's kind of like everyday life for some of us. We enjoy the slow moments so much and being able to appreciate the little things without the craziness of all the other obligations that clutter our lives. Yet at the same time, we find the fast-paced society exciting and a driving force to succeed and work harder. Unfortunately our lives tend to be more fast-paced and less "stop and smell the roses." I would almost say that's the way America is these days. It's keeping up with the Jones' . . . except with other countries.

I think many of us fail to recognize the beauty in each moment, just as it is . . . slow or fast, big or small. I never thought this is how God intended it to be; a hectic life where people work and work just to stay ahead. I realize that America is going through a bit of a rough time economically, but it seems to be a hole we are continuously digging. Politicians' paths become more crooked and Americans pay for it in many ways. With actual money, time with family, work choices, time to ourselves, time in general we instead spend working. I signed a petition tonight about how the politicians in Michigan are still receiving a large paycheck, while the Michigan economy is still greatly suffering. The petition wanted the issue put on the ballot that their salary should be cut by 25 percent. Also, the politicians only have to spend one year working for the government, and they receive health care for life, which, guess what, we Michiganders have to pay for with taxes . . . and many are not making enough money to support a family as it is with the way our economic system is "working" right now.

I applied the beautiful fireworks show to my own life. What beauty am I taking for granted? Right now, not too much. I enjoy slow summers, even though they seem to go by faster and faster. But during the school year, I take for granted a whole lot. Something I discovered recently is that I really enjoy listening to Michael Bublé singing "Come Fly With Me" while I walk across campus to class. First of all, he's just an amazing singer and I can't get enough of him. But when I block out the exterior noises so that I just have the music, I notice the beauty of the world. It makes the whole world seem to open up, and it puts me in a really great mood really fast. I smile more and I feel like skipping. I also discovered, within the last few weeks of school, that there is a great place to go hiking and I fell in love with it. It was comforting to go out into nature, most of the time completely by myself, and think, take pictures, write, and pray.

Being away from home this past year has really helped me to appreciate the little things. Things such as a short hike on my own, singing and dancing in my pajamas around the house when my family's gone, watching a movie with my family, baking, having a child ask you to sit next to them (because they think I'm cool?), reading a book out on the porch with my dog, and so many other things. Yeah, every once in a while I have to take a look at the big picture, like how to pay for college, leaving the continent, how I'm going to live through the next semester (with 18 credit hours, Marching Band, drama club, and a job), and other things that nag at me.

However, I realized that my spirits have been higher than they have been in a very long time on the Fourth of July. Freedom has come to mean a lot to me in the past few years, and you darn well better be thankful for it. As I was praying over my lunch today, I thanked God simply for granting me the privilege of being born in a country where I am free to eat my potato salad as a Christian . . . and of course where I can enjoy a holiday with a half hour of spectacular fireworks. Even as I was sitting and watching the show, I was not as lonely as I usually am. In past years I have always wanted to be able to share the fireworks show with someone special. Of course they are very romantic (in my opinion), and almost magical. But tonight, I didn't feel that lonely, because I knew I had my family and someday I would be at every fireworks show with a very special someone. All along I had been taking my family for granted.

Although we have strayed far from the original United States of America, I am still an original American. I was born here and I am free. I respect and pray for those who, like my very own family, defend that freedom. I am a Christian, and I have rights just like everyone else, and I can practice my religion openly. And, although America is going through a rough time, we will pull together as we always do and make ourselves a better America, hopefully having learned from the past as we move to make the future better for our children. I praise God, not nearly as much as I should, for the blessing of being born an American.




"In my anguish I cried to the Lord, and he answered by setting me free."
Psalm 118:5

"I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free."
Psalm 119:32