A Different Kind of Freedom

One of my favorite ways to celebrate the Fourth of July is sitting outside with friends, enjoying brunch, and waiting for the parade to begin in Double Oak. It’s not flashy—just laughter, good food, kids playing, and that small-town sense of connection that reminds you: community matters.

As I consider what it means to celebrate this holiday as a Christian, I keep coming back to the idea of freedom—not just the kind protected by laws or honored by flags, but a deeper kind—a spiritual freedom that doesn’t depend on where we live or what we’ve achieved.

True freedom, for me, is found in the peace that comes from knowing God is with us. It’s the assurance that grace meets us where we are. It’s the purpose we discover when we use that freedom to serve others.

Scripture puts it this way:

     “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord         require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk        humbly with your God?”( Micah 6:8)

That verse feels especially timely. Because patriotism, like faith, isn’t about declaring we’re better than someone else. It’s about asking, Are we becoming better for each other?

This year, during my renewal leave, I will be praying for our country, not just in celebration but in hope. I am praying that we grow in compassion, seek unity without losing our convictions, work for justice in ways big and small, and use our freedom not just for ourselves but for the good of others.

So, wherever you find yourself this July 4th—parade route, cookout, or quiet moment at home—I hope you’ll pause, with me, and give thanks. Not just for the country we live in, but for the calling we’ve been given.

To do justice.
To love kindness.
And to walk humbly—with God and with one another.

With Gratitude,

Rev. Rodney Whitfield
Senior Pastor
Aldersgate UMC