Holiday Reflections

Here in the United States, yesterday was our Independence Day, July 4th. It’s been two hundred and forty-two years since the thirteen colonies claimed independence from England. Did you know the Revolutionary War was in full swing when a group of guys gathered, called the Continental Congress, and voted to adopt the Declaration of Independence? The war is officially dated between April of 1775 and September of 1783, and the Declaration of Independence was in 1776. There are a lot of details, and I’m no historical expert, but I think it’s important to look back and dig deep for holidays like our Independence Day.

My family is big into Independence Day celebrations. We often grill out and sometimes get a little cheesy by watching the Independence Day movie. And there are no shortage of pyromaniacs in my household. We shoot off fireworks until our thumbs are sore from the lighters and our shirts are sporting new burn holes. If someone comes out without at least a minor burn, we haven’t done it right. But why is this holiday such a big deal? What’s so important about celebrating independence? Personally, I have a deep rooted patriotic streak because of the men and women who fought for my freedom. I can’t properly express my gratitude for the sacrifice those complete strangers have made for me. It’s a big deal in my family because we understand that there are unseen heroes in our history and in our present. So we make quite a racket with the fireworks and the hot dogs and the quality family time because we value our freedom to do so.

Although I’ve been raised by parents who bleed red, white, and blue, and although I have a deep respect and love for my country and our military, I haven’t always had such a deep interest and love of history. I was always terrible in social studies and history in school, but, you know, the older I’ve gotten, the more I’ve come to appreciate history. I read historical fiction now. I’ve been interested in historical non-fiction lately. I still can’t remember dates and names to save my life, but I’ve grown to learn that I do actually like history, despite my speckled past.

It started as a very selective interest in specific areas of history. Wars have drawn my attention, specifically the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and World War II. I’ve found certain people in history that I want to know more about, such as Helen Keller, C. S. Lewis, Martin Luther King, and Jesse Owens just to name a few. That opened up the door to biographies. Naturally, as a bookworm and writer myself, famous authors intrigue me. We’ve had some pretty interesting presidents here in America, and they’ve accomplished some pretty incredible feats. Likewise, there are some amazing people who have done amazing things to change history completely, both in and outside of the political realm.

My slowly deepening interest in history has led, in a roundabout way, to a different interest: psychology. I went to a private college in a rural, artsy town in Kentucky. I didn’t have to take a psychology class. I don’t really know the first thing about psychology as a subject; however, I do have a curious fascination with human behaviors and relationships. Perhaps it’s the writer in me that needs to know what makes people go tick, or perhaps it’s my insatiable need to pursue personal growth. Either way, I think I have the significant people and events in history to thank for this developing interest in psychology.

There are people who put their lives on the line repeatedly for complete strangers, for an ideal, for a belief. Rosa Parks is known for refusing to move to the back of a buss during a time in our nation when black and white people were strictly segregated. Do you ever stop to think about who Rosa Parks was before that moment? I imagine she wasn’t much different than you and I. She may have had children, a husband, and a home to care for. She probably had a tedious job and wondered if what she did there ever made a difference in anyone’s life. She probably never thought her act of rebellion was that big of a deal. Maybe, the woman was just so tired and worn out she didn’t care what happened to her if she chose to break the rules. I don’t really know. I’m not an authority on Rosa Parks or the Civil Rights Movement. But I do know that there are men and women woven throughout the history of our world who have used their lives to make an impact, to make a difference in the world.

There are people since the dawn of time that have shaped our world and the societies in it. They’re the people whose names faintly ring a bell long after you’ve graduated from school. They’re the people who inspire, even long after they’ve been buried in the cold, hard ground. They’re the people who dared to be the first in what they did, who dared to break the mold, and who dared to stand up for something bigger than themselves. They’re the people who refused to conform to the ways of our world, who refused to go quietly when things were wrong, and who refused to waste the lives they’ve been given. They’re the heroes we look up to and the villains we swear to stop. But, do you know what’s even cooler than studying these shinning individuals? Being one of them.

These people weren’t toddling around as three-year-olds declaring their mark on society. I doubt Anne Frank skipped through her house as a babe, grinning about her part in the Holocaust. I bet as a child Neil Armstrong never dreamt of walking on the moon, let alone landing in every history book thereafter. Anne Sullivan had no idea she’d become Helen Keller’s best friend, mentor, and lifetime companion and revolutionize the world of the blind and deaf. Who would Helen have been without Anne Sullivan? What would have happened if Ms. Sullivan had refused the position as Helen’s teacher? We may never have known either of their names, and worse, we may not have had any idea of the potential of our blind and deaf friends. They may not have had any idea of their potential!

Many of these people weren’t raised to be heroes. Many of these events wouldn’t have been significant without these people. But what makes this rare breed of heroes who sacrifice their lives so that we can live in a better place? How do we find the soldiers, teachers, advocates, writers, and inventors who alter the very fabric of our world? My belief is that they were just normal, every day people who had extraordinary characters, who lived intentionally and took advantage of the opportunities they were given. These people had mentors in their lives, people who encouraged them, uplifted them, held them accountable, and told them they could make a difference. These were the people who had the courage to act in the face of fear, who had the values to stand on when the world was turned upside down, and who had the integrity to live meaningful lives in the everyday, mundane world through every moment that led up to the day that they changed history and beyond.

I’ve learned that people are captivating and history is full of them. I may spend all my life discovering what people are made of and why they choose to do what they do. I plan to learn from them and live my life intentionally. At the very least, I could be the one who encourages the next Billy Graham to develop his lifelong mission. I don’t need anyone to know my name other than my Father in Heaven, but I do need to know that I’ve got what it takes to do what’s right in the little things every day. I need to know that when opportunity knocks, my muscles will be strong and ready to respond. I need to know that I have the potential to make a difference in this world. And I believe with all my heart that you do too.

Love always,
Coralie

P.S. While you’re out shooting off firecrackers like a red-necked hooligan, don’t forget to thank the men and women who serve our country today, no matter the time or method of service. These heroes deserve to be celebrated, thanked, and honored!