July Fourth Reflections on Freedom

Across the road from a small country church and school, on festival grounds set among the corn and soybean fields of southern Minnesota, folks gather each July to celebrate our nation’s birthday in unincorporated North Morristown. This year marks the 127th annual celebration, making it the longest running July Fourth event in my state.

Grassroots Americana best describes this gathering that focuses on God and country during a flag raising ceremony, patriotic program, and an evening capped by fireworks soaring over farm fields.

Activities pack the family-oriented day. From the popular parade to a medallion hunt to live music to long ago handcrafted kiddie carnival rides to assorted homemade foods served in vintage concession stands, a live auction and much more, North Morristown’s celebration draws hundreds. It’s like a step back in time, to simpler days, to visiting with friends and family. To reconnecting. To appreciating the basics of family, food, God and country.

I’ve attended many times and always leave feeling a sense of American pride and gratitude for the many volunteers—especially the pie bakers—who create a memorable homegrown rural celebration of our nation’s birthday.

How do you celebrate the Fourth of July?

In the midst of all the festivities, it’s important to reflect on the meaning of the holiday, on the basics of freedom from a Christian perspective. What a blessing to live in a democracy. What a blessing to speak and live our Christian faith in a free country.

Sometimes I think we take religious freedom and the ability to worship for granted. What if you couldn’t attend Sunday morning worship services? Times existed in my life—while recovering from surgeries and during family difficulties—when I couldn’t join my faith family in praising and worshiping God and in nourishing my soul. I missed gathering inside God’s house with my brothers and sisters in Christ. But thanks to the freedoms we enjoy in this country, I could watch the service online or listen on the radio. My church has a 71-year-old radio ministry and also a video ministry that reaches an audience from Minnesota to Sweden to Saudi Arabia and beyond. What a blessing.

The Church of God engages in a similar, and much larger, mass media ministry through Christians Broadcasting Hope. Via radio, the internet and more, CHOG evangelizes to the nations. What a blessing to freely spread God’s Word.

When I reflect on the Fourth of July, I think beyond the red-white-and-blue, the small-town celebrations, the picnics, the fireworks, the incredible homemade pie baked by the folks of North Morristown. I focus on the broader meaning of freedom. I thank God for this free country in which I live. I thank God that I can write this post expressing my faith without fear of censorship. I thank God that I can worship, talk about Jesus, even wear t-shirts that banner my faith.

In these challenging times—and they certainly are challenging—I remain thankful for America. God bless America, land that I love.

On the Fourth of July, you’ll find writer Audrey Kletscher Helbling celebrating either in North Morristown, Minnesota, or 120 miles to the west at a gathering with extended family.