Reflections

As we look forward to our family and community celebration of the 4th of July, Independence Day, it seems appropriate to reflect on the strength of the people that gave us the opportunities that America offers, the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Can you imagine being one of 56 individuals to sign a document that would be your death sentence if your fellow countrymen didn’t stand behind you and endanger their lives in a war against the mighty British empire? Upon where did they draw that strength to be so vulnerable?

It is interesting to note that half of the Declaration’s signers had training in colonial colleges containing heavy doses of theological and moral content. The primary goal of almost all colonial colleges was the training of ministers. Graduates went on to other professions such as law, medicine or Christian ministry. So, it is no wonder that these men often spoke and wrote of God, the Creator and the Divine in supporting their cause and each other. In a speech during a contentious moment at the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin, an essentially self-educated man, included the plea, “And have we not forgotten the powerful friend? Or do we imagine that we no longer need His assistance? I have lived, Sir, a long time and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth — that God governs in the affairs of men.” The closing paragraph of the Declaration of Independence states, “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance of the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”

If you were faced with a difficult situation that would place you in a potential position of being criticized, ostracized or the extreme of being hung, as in the case of our founding fathers, as you acted to resolve it, where would your inner strength to act come from? Our founding fathers were regular people, with all-too-human quirks, personality flaws, and family issues. In spite of their ‘humanness,” they passed on an amazing nation of opportunity to us. But just as importantly, their example showed us that developing and helping our children develop strong cultural and spiritual values can give us the inner strength to be formidable, resilient individuals, leaders and community/nation builders.

Joan Sargent,

Island of Faith Lutheran Church