ORANGE —
In order to celebrate July 4th, I have to see fireworks.
It is just not Independence Day without them. I can’t help it.
Let me give you a life example.
In 2010, I experienced a life changing event, something that I had not envisioned for my life because I loved my life. I loved the freedom I had; to go when I wanted, to do what I wanted, and to eat what I wanted, and when. My church was my family and life - I felt like a modern day Paul. I was amazed by my colleagues who had families and wondered “How do they do it?”
On December 18th, I married my friend Sandra. The minister made a joke at our wedding about us knowing each other for 15 years saying, “It’s about time!”
To which everyone laughed. Sandra wanted me to sing an Elvis song during our wedding. I had been impersonating him for a few years and had sung “Love Me Tender” to her at Christmas, just before our engagement. She wanted me to sing it to her during our wedding but I sang “Wise men say only fools rush in, but I can’t help falling in love with you” instead. I was happy in my life, but the truth is I couldn’t help but fall in love with her - she captured my heart. Fireworks all the time! I can’t imagine my life without her.
My life has changed tremendously. Some things I do with great enthusiasm and some things I do grudgingly. Like dragging my feet to a movie last Friday night where I am the only man in the theater! (I will be scared for life.) But then turn-about is fair play - she had to go canoeing for the first time. I am happy to report it was a religious experience for her because for the first thirty minutes of the trip, she held on to the canoe repeating, “O God”!
And an hour later she said “This is fun”.
We are learning to go with the flow but the best is the freedom we have, to make our own choices because of Independence Day. And that is what makes our country great. No matter whom you voted for, our officers still have a duty to make the best of it for the sake of us all. That’s the way it is in all of life, making the best out of it.
I have found that it helps to remember these words from Luke 6:31 “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
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Fireworks in the heart
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