For Wilshire Baptist Church
We hung bunting on the front porch railing for the July Fourth holiday. This is the third or fourth year we’ve done that, and it always begins with a question: “Now . . . where did we put the bunting when we took it down last year?” And once we answer that question — in a box in the attic — then comes the second question: “How do we rig this?” Because, while the bunting has grommets, it doesn’t have ties. We’ve had to invent a way to hang it so that it doesn’t bunch up and look like we’re just drying our laundry on the porch railing, and so that it doesn’t flop backward over the railing where it can’t be seen.
With a little work I found the bunting and it all came back as to how to hang it so we’ll be red, white and blue for Independence Day. We’ll keep it up through the weekend and then take it down and put it away and forget about it till next year.
Sadly, how to hang bunting on the railing is not the only thing that’s been forgotten over the past year. We’ve also forgotten things like civility, compassion, respect, tolerance, empathy, patience and many other qualities that have always been ways we define our nation and that contribute to our understanding of what we call community, civil society and being good neighbors.
We were in Washington, D.C. last week and saw many shining examples of these qualities that have been hallmarks of the “American way” and the “American dream.” I’m not talking about the endless acres of museums and monuments that a person could spend years trying to see. I’m talking about the everyday people we met who live and work in the midst of that boiling cauldron of democratic chaos and yet manage to keep their cool and their sense of community. People like:
– The Uber driver from Nepal who came to the United States to study business and is working in administration at a university, driving on weekends, and developing a business plan for a non-profit agency to help his countrymen come to America, gain an education, and return to Nepal to provide hope and opportunity there.
– The maître d at the Greek restaurant who shared a little slice of his personal story and said, “Every day I am proud and honored to serve the people of the United States of America with respect and dignity.” And yes, he did.
– The made-in-America owner/operator of a nighttime monuments tour who gave his heart and soul to his customers as he told our collective story of nationhood – warts and all – with enthusiasm and good humor.
– The docent at the Library of Congress, originally from Denmark, who shared her passion for literature, history and architecture with a big smile and a twinkle in her eye.
– The young congressional interns that gamely led yet another group from Texas on a march through the crowded rotunda and halls of the Capitol.
– The Airman at the Air Force Memorial who saw me crouching on the pavement, trying to frame a photo, and led me back 30 yards to show me the perfect spot to get the perfect picture.
– The security guard at the National Portrait Gallery who pointed out some details on a painting that we completely overlooked and that transformed the viewing.
– The busy children’s librarian at the Library of Congress who kept her promise and emailed LeAnn within days with information about a book she was looking for.
– The gracious member of Vienna Baptist Church who greeted us the way we should always remember to greet our guests.
– And the tens of thousands of fellow tourists who performed what I call “the museum shuffle” that is required in crowded quarters to keep from stepping on each other, and who said “excuse me” and “I’m sorry” at the slightest bump of elbows.
Those memories are the souvenirs I brought home from Washington that I don’t want to put away in the attic and forget. Those are the American qualities — the God-given human qualities, actually — that I want to remember and do a better job of living and promoting.
A good place to start will be on our corner on July 4th evening, where we will share watermelon and conversation at our turquoise table. Stop by if you’re passing through; we’d love to see you.