This holiday is typically celebrated as a summer holiday, a day off work to BBQ, swim and party with friends and family. Yes, we see red, white and blue as the color theme at every event, and fireworks are the dessert we all look forward to. This year most of the big fireworks displays in Colorado have been cancelled due to the ongoing wildfires in the state and the extreme dry conditions.
The change in the natural order gives us the opportunity to contemplate the meaning of the holiday. In July of 1776 our leaders wrote the Declaration of Independence, forever changing the course of our country. I think the most memorable line from the Declaration is this one: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
We are wise to refer back to the original intention of this grand and meaningful document. Our freedom is our most prized possession in this country, and sometimes we take it for granted. This year, in the absence of fireworks, let’s ignite our own fire within, honoring our commitment to each other, the greatness of our country and the people that are dedicated to keeping us free.