Choosing Hope: A Fourth of July Reflection

We are about to celebrate the Fourth of July, the day on which we commemorate 250 years of being a country that pledges to be one Nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all. What a wonderful inspiring ideal with hopes and dreams for ALL. Who would not want to live in a country that promises such fortune? Wouldn’t this be a hope for every country? Yet, I am struggling to get into a mode of celebrating when I am so aware of what is happening in our country. The unrest, the divisions, the oppression of people and the hunger for money, power, and control seem so overpowering. However, I cannot choose to buy into the desperation and futility of that atmosphere.

I choose to search my heart and soul for the strength, the courage, the kindness, and the hope that our loving God blesses us with each day if we are open to seeing the world as God sees it. God sees goodness in all of creation and delights in that goodness. God promises to be with us through desperate times and joyous times. God allows us the freedom to choose how we relate to one another, how we welcome one another, and how we believe in one another. I am reminded of the profound statement that Anne Frank, a 14-year-old Jewish girl in hiding wrote, “Despite everything, I believe that people are good at heart.”   I join Anne in choosing to believe in the goodness and kindness of people.

I do not deny that there are horrible wars happening; yet there are courageous leaders and lawmakers seeking to negotiate with respect, honesty, and justice even when their lives are threatened. There are volunteers selflessly serving in war-torn areas providing health care, food, and other life-giving services that are needed. There are kind, caring people doing simple acts of kindness such as calling a friend to encourage them, writing notes of care, bringing a meal to a homebound person, offering support and help in time of natural disasters, visiting with someone who needs to talk, and holding in prayer the many suffering due to health issues, poverty, and oppression.  The list goes on and on. This is love and goodness overflowing. This is working to bring freedom to those who are denied it.

Thinking about celebrating July 4, I realize it is about celebrating the accomplishments over the years of the countless women and men who have believed in working for freedom, for liberty, and for justice for all.  From those earliest immigrants to immigrants today seeking freedom from oppression and violence, to the efforts to alleviate racial injustice and promote freedom and equality for people of diverse cultures, to people advocating for adequate healthcare for all,  recognizing that health care is not a privilege, but an inalienable right. It is people’s faithful commitment to the work of justice that makes freedom available to all.

So, I will celebrate and honor this holiday, grateful for the courage and the passion of those who persistently work for the justice and dignity of all. I trust and believe that God gives us the strength and wisdom to create a world of unity and care for each other. I invite you to join this critical work, not through grand gestures or instant solutions, but through ordinary people who decide to love their neighbors, stand up for what’s right, and care for those who are hurting. May you and your family enjoy a happy and delightful Fourth of July.

Love and Prayers,  Sr. Rita Ostry, ND