Summer is a popular time for independence. Of course the USA celebrates on July 4. Singapore celebrates on August 9. Indonesia celebrates theirs on August 17. Malaysia celebrates on August 31. Independence is a big deal, and it’s an exciting moment in a national identity to celebrate.
This July 4th I was once again not in America, but rather Singapore. And while it was enjoyable to have fellowship with friends and brothers and sisters joined by a common savior rather than a common political history, there is a certain poignancy to missing out on the celebrations at home. While fireworks were never a major part of my celebrations growing up due to extreme fire risks in the tinder-dry environment of the American Southwest, it was fun to know there were fireworks elsewhere, as well as the controlled municipal fireworks displays.
I’m patriotic but my stars and stripes are not worn on my sleeve. I’m proud of my country while acknowledging it has many flaws and many things that could and should be improved. I’m particularly proud of the opportunity it has given to so many people from so many places around the world, so that the word America is still synonymous with a place of great temporal bounty to so many different cultures and geographies. Two hundred and fifty years is nothing to sneeze at. And the list of people who underwent great struggles in order to call America home is by no means short, and their contributions not just to American society but the world are by no means insignificant.
We didn’t sing any patriotic songs in our fellowship today. There are only two Americans (counting myself) in our small group of friends. But I have no doubt they are happy to celebrate American independence, just as I’m happy to celebrate their independence. God’s working out of his will through the civil realm is never clear to us, but I trust there is a plan at work. And I’m grateful that plan leads not just to the temporal superiority or security of any given country, but towards an eternal celebration that knows no borders of land or language or race or skin color. Just as the tower of Babel was abandoned in confusion, the myriad towers we have erected since that dispersion will one day also be abandoned in favor of a common eternal home. Our celebrations of small victories (or big) here for good things like independence are foretastes of that final, ultimate victory so mysteriously already won and yet not yet fully realized.
Happy Birthday America.
The Nelson Family Indonesia 