fifth stop – mississippi

Back to Mississippi.  Got to love the feeling of coming home.  Even though we didn’t celebrate with anything special, the 4^th of July is always an exciting time.  I am sad to admit that I enjoyed the Olive Branch fireworks display from the parking lot of Wal-mart.  Mr. E was with some friends and I thought that I would just be prouctive and do some mundane, but necessary shopping at the supply giant.  As I pulled into the parking lot I heard the first bomb…oh I mean firework.  But, really that’s what a bomb sounds like.  As I slowly walked toward the group of about 30 employees standing at the entrance enjoying their moments of freedom, I couldn’t help but think how odd it is that the sound of celebration for our country’s freedom is the same sound that destroys and enslaves other countries.  How odd that the sounds of our Independence day celebration sound similar to the most depressing of days in other countries.

Even though we try not to admit to you very often, we do hear bombs in K*bul.  We do hear rockets.  We do hear gunshots.  We do, but you don’t have to worry, because we are taught ‘to worry about nothing.’  And I don’t worry about it.  I pr*y for safety.  I pr*ay for a time when the people hear do not have to live in fear of their safety.  I pr*r for G*d to bless my work even as I can admit that I am ready to leave.  But, I wasn’t talking about K*bul, I was talking about fireworks in the parking lot of Wal-mart.

Oh the 4^th of July.  It’s such a great time of the year.  I remember going to Riverfront Park in Nashville and listening to the Symphony play during the 4^th of July fireworks show.  I loved going there with my family.  Later in my life I had the joy of spending the 4^th of July at Lake Junaluska with the parade, flea market, singers concert, bar-b-que lunch, and fireworks show over the bridge.  Even though it was always a work day for us in the youth m*nistry, it still felt like a different, special day.

But, now in my life I am standing in the Wal-mart parking lot pausing my errand schedule for a few moments just to listen and enjoy the celebration of our freedom.  Seriously, I almost broke out into gushy tears.  I really had to hold them back.  And the only real reason why I held them back was because I didn’t want to explain to the 30 or so emplyees why I was having an emotionial breakdown in their parking lot over the fireworks.  So I pulled it together and went in to shop and celebrate America in the most American of all places.  Wal-Mart.

welcome back!

happy 4th of July

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