Hand Over My Heart

When I was young, my dad was very serious about the fact that when the national anthem played or the flag passed at a parade, I was to stand, take off my hat, and cover my heart. I didn't like it because my friends didnt have to. When I asked why, he always gave the same answer: it's simply a sign of respect for the country where you live.

I still take my hat off. I want my kids to do the same.

Lately, being proud of the American flag can feel politically charged. Recently, a man asked me sarcastically if I was a “patriot.”  I responded, “Aren't you?”

It brought to mind something John F. Kennedy said: “Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.” If you take a walk to McCormick Park, you will see the quote on a board in the parking lot. 

The difference is subtle but large, and I think it changes the core of how we see ourselves in society. Call it the difference between a consumer and a citizen.

The consumer treats the country like a vendor — if I pay something in, I have expectations about what I get in return. If I don’t get my way, I withdraw my loyalty. The problem with this line of thinking is that there are too many people in any country for everything to go the way I want. If you're a consumer, you'll never find satisfaction with any country you live in. 

The citizen treats belonging like membership in a family. You don't stop loving something because it's flawed — you show up because it's yours, and your showing up is part of what makes it better. If you seek to be a good citizen, you'll probably find a way to enjoy nearly any country you live in.

Without saying it, I imagine my dad was trying to help me understand all this back then.

This Fourth of July, I will not be naive. I won’t pretend that every decision made in this country is going to be one that pleases me. I will stand, remove my hat, and place it over my heart because this country is my country. I want my children to see in me not a political position but a deep desire to be good to my country.

Bless you, 

Pastor.