Independence Day
The Peek Perspective on a Complicated 4th of July
Today in the U.S., we celebrate with fire in our hands and admire its beauty and brilliance. And yet we know that this same fire has the potential to burn and destroy. It is possible to hold space for both the joyful celebration of its glow and solemn reverence for the heat of its flame.
In the same way, we can appreciate the blessings of freedom in our country while acknowledging deep injustices that have burned for centuries, even as a result of this “freedom”. We can be distraught over recent Supreme Court decisions and feel at a loss for the choice of candidates on our ballot…while also believing that every voice matters and that we can make a difference. I’ve been feeling the tension between celebrating our beautiful country and at the same time lamenting the ugly parts of our [ongoing] history. But I’ve landed on believing it doesn't have to be an “either/or” perspective, but can also be a “both/and.”
We can hold our sparklers high to celebrate a country we love, while also allowing the fire to illuminate the dark spaces of our past/present...and spark our willingness to pursue a brighter future for all.
Holding space for all that today means for our country,
Dr. Peek